USE OF DISSOCIATION STRATEGIES WHEN RUNNING BECOMES DIFFICULT: LEVELS OF ABILITY AND GENDER DIFFERENCES

The use of dissociative and associative strategies was investigated in 40 junior athletes competing regularly in distance running events. The sample, 20 males and 20 females, representing athletes of different abilities (international, national, state, and club level competitors) was surveyed concerning cognitive strategies they used “when it was difficult to continue in a race or hard training session”. There was a significant relationship between level of ability and the runner's tendency to use dissociation to cope when running became difficult. The use of totally dissociative strategies was significantly higher for athletes of lesser ability: 8 of the 10 club level runners versus 1 of the 10 international level runners used only dissociation. Although there was no overall effect for gender, an analysis of the responses from subjects below the age of 16 showed that compared to females, males were more likely to be totally dissociative.