Examination of the Anxiety Levels of the Participants of the Turkish Boxing Championships About Catching COVID-19 After COVID-19: The Role of Demographic Factors

Abstract

Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to determine the anxiety levels of athletes participating in the Turkish Boxing Championship after the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine how these anxiety levels are related to demographic factors such as gender, age, national athlete status and boxing duration. The pandemic period has had various psychological effects on athletes, and it has been observed that anxiety levels are particularly high. This study will attempt to better understand these anxiety levels and to reveal how demographic factors shape anxiety.

Method: The research was carried out by adopting a quantitative pattern. The study was conducted with 89 athletes randomly selected from among the athletes participating in the 2024 Turkish Boxing Championship. The participants included 52 male and 37 female athletes, and a questionnaire was administered to each participant to measure their anxiety about contracting COVID-19. The questionnaire collected demographic factors such as age, gender, national athlete status, and boxing duration, along with anxiety levels about COVID-19. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA tests.

Findings: Research findings have shown that anxiety about COVID-19 varies significantly across age groups. In particular, a significant increase in anxiety levels was observed in athletes aged 14-17 compared to other age groups. However, it was found that factors such as gender, national athlete status, and boxing duration did not create a significant difference in anxiety levels. This finding shows that the effect of age on COVID-19 anxiety is more pronounced and that athletes in this age group experienced more anxiety during the pandemic.

Conclusion: The study reveals that anxiety about catching COVID-19 varies depending on age and that athletes, especially in the younger age group, experience this anxiety more intensely. No significant effect of other demographic factors (gender, national athlete status, duration of boxing) on ​​anxiety was found. This result emphasizes that the pandemic has specific effects on athletes for different age groups and the need for age-specific customized interventions in anxiety management. It also points to the importance of developing psychological support and anxiety management programs for athletes in the field of sports psychology.