Stress Management | AQA A-Level Physical Education (7582)
Stress Management
- 59 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Paper 2: Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport
- Paper 2
Stress Management is examined in Paper 2, Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport.
It covers stress, stressors and the warm-up, mental rehearsal, visualisation and imagery, attentional control, thought stopping and self-talk and somatic relaxation techniques.
Sample questions from Stress Management
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Stress, stressors and the warm-up
Why does the same stressor affect performers differently?
Show the answer
Stress depends on how a performer judges the demand against their ability to cope. A confident performer may see a big crowd as a challenge rather than a threat. -
Stress, stressors and the warm-up
What is the difference between cognitive and somatic stress management techniques?
Show the answer
Cognitive techniques work on the mind, tackling worry and negative thoughts. Somatic techniques work on the body, reducing physiological arousal. -
Mental rehearsal, visualisation and imagery
What is visualisation?
Show the answer
Visualisation is forming a clear mental picture of a successful performance or outcome. A high jumper might picture clearing the bar. -
Mental rehearsal, visualisation and imagery
What is the difference between internal and external imagery?
Show the answer
Internal imagery pictures the performance through the performer's own eyes. External imagery pictures the performance as if watching a recording of oneself. -
Attentional control, thought stopping and self-talk
How does cue utilisation explain a nervous netball centre missing an unmarked teammate?
Show the answer
Over-arousal has narrowed the centre's attention too far. The unmarked teammate is a relevant cue that falls outside the narrow focus. -
Attentional control, thought stopping and self-talk
What is positive self-talk?
Show the answer
Positive self-talk is using encouraging words or phrases to direct attention and build confidence. A runner might repeat "strong and smooth" on the final lap. -
Somatic relaxation techniques
What is centering?
Show the answer
Centering is a technique in which the performer focuses on the centre of the body while breathing deeply. The shoulders relax and attention turns to the skill ahead. -
Somatic relaxation techniques
What is a limitation of progressive muscle relaxation?
Show the answer
Progressive muscle relaxation takes time to learn and to carry out in full. A full session is impractical during competition, although a shortened version can help.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Stress, stressors and the warm-up | Stress and stressors, eustress and distress, the warm-up as stress management, and cognitive and somatic techniques. | 15 |
| Mental rehearsal, visualisation and imagery | Mental rehearsal, visualisation and imagery, kinaesthetic, internal and external imagery, imagery for relaxation, and use by injured and anxious performers. | 15 |
| Attentional control, thought stopping and self-talk | Attentional control and Easterbrook's cue utilisation hypothesis, broad and narrow attention, thought stopping and positive self-talk. | 15 |
| Somatic relaxation techniques | Biofeedback, centering, breathing control and progressive muscle relaxation, with their uses and limitations. | 14 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA A-Level Physical Education Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,084 questions with their answers.