Evaluation strategies, self esteem, and athletic performance

The relationships between self esteem, self evaluative information use, and athletic performance were examined among 103 intercollegiate athletes. As predicted, personal standards were rated as the most useful form of information with downward social comparisons and feared selves information as the least useful. Athletes high in self esteem used more personal standards and ideal selves information and fewer feared selves. Higher self esteem was associated with better athletic performance. Controlling for self esteem, hours practiced, and social desirability, better athletic performance was associated with using upward, lateral, and downward social comparisons. Athletes using negative performance information from the past performed more poorly.