Abstract:

The present study aims to analyze athletes’ levels of coronavirus phobia. The sample of the present study consists of 156 individual and 62 team athletes in different sports branches in Yozgat province of Turkey during the season 2019-2020. Athletes’ demographic features were obtained using a “personal information form”. Athletes’ levels of coronavirus phobia were measured using Coronavirus-19 phobia scale developed by Arpacı, Karataş and Baloğlu (2020). The statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed using SPSS 18 package program. In addition, normality test, frequency analysis, percentage analysis, arithmetic means, T test, ANOVA analysis and post hoc tests were used. The data analysis demonstrated the mean scale test score was 50.03. In terms of various variables such as sports branch (individual or team), age, history of coronavirus case in an acquaintance, monthly income from the sports branch, measures taken by managers in sports facilities and other people’s personal hygiene during the past/future trainings, statistically significant differences were found among participants’ mean total coronavirus phobia scale scores (p<0.05). It was found that participants performing team sports had a higher level of coronavirus phobia compared to those performing individual sports. Participants aged 21 and older had a higher level of coronavirus phobia compared to those aged 20 or younger. Participants with a history of coronavirus case in an acquaintance had a higher level of coronavirus phobia compared to those who did not witness such cases in their social circle. Participants who had a higher monthly income from their respective sports branch had a higher level of coronavirus phobia compared to those who did not earn any income. Participants who believed that managers did not take necessary measures and that people around them did not pay attention to personal hygiene had a higher level of coronavirus phobia compared to those who did not. However, no statistically significant differences were found among participants’ mean total coronavirus phobia scale scores in terms of gender, contact or no contact sports branch, dialogues with about coronavirus other people around them in the past/future trainings and paying attention to personal hygiene (p>0.05).

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