The relationship between injury-related anxiety and participation motivation: Insights from athletes across competitive levels
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between injury-related anxiety and participation motivation in athletes, with a focus on demographic factors such as gender, age, national team status, and injury history.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 221 athletes who completed validated scales measuring injury anxiety and participation motivation. Data were analyzed using t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and correlation analyses.
Results: Significant gender differences were found in anxiety subdimensions, with female athletes reporting higher levels of anxiety about loss of athleticism, pain, and reinjury. Age showed a negative correlation with anxiety about pain and reinjury, while positively correlating with motivational dimensions related to success, team membership, and physical fitness. National team athletes exhibited heightened anxiety related to social pressures and performance expectations. Athletes with an injury history reported elevated anxiety about pain and reinjury. Motivation subdimensions showed mixed relationships with anxiety subdimensions, with notable correlations between enjoyment, friendship, and anxiety dimensions.
Conclusion: The findings emphasize the need for tailored psychological interventions and motivational strategies to address anxiety and enhance athletic performance across different demographic and experiential groups. These insights contribute to the growing literature on sports psychology and athlete well-being.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.6.11798
How to cite this: Temur CS. The relationship between injury-related anxiety and participation motivation: Insights from athletes across competitive levels. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(6):1770-1776. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.6.11798
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