Optimism and Pessimism Levels of Sports Sciences Students by Various Variables

Abstract

Introduction: The present study was designed to investigate the optimism and pessimism levels of sports sciences faculty students in relation to a range of demographic and sport-specific variables.

Method: A descriptive and relational survey design was employed. A total of 361 students (Female: n=160, 44.3%; Male: n=201, 55.7%) enrolled at Yalova University Faculty of Sports Sciences during the 2024-2025 academic year were recruited on a voluntary basis. Data were collected using the Athletes' Optimism and Pessimism Scale (AOPS), developed by Tekkursun Demir (2022). Independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and simple linear regression analyses were conducted; effect sizes were reported as Cohen's d and eta-squared (η²).

Results: Pessimism scores were found to differ significantly by gender, with female students obtaining higher scores than their male counterparts (t=2.322; p=0.021; d=0.248). Injury experience was associated with significantly lower optimism (t=2.145; p=0.032; d=0.265) and higher pessimism (t=-3.280; p=0.001; d=0.551). An inverted-U relationship was identified between weekly training frequency and optimism; students training 3-4 days per week scored significantly higher than other groups (F=5.487; p=0.005; η²=0.030). No significant differences were observed for department, grade level, sport license, sport type, training years, achievement, income, or future anxiety.

Conclusion: Age was not identified as a significant predictor. Optimism and pessimism mutually predicted each other at a low but statistically significant level (β≈0.143; R²=0.021; p=0.006). Injury experience and training frequency are identified as key biopsychosocial variables shaping the psychological profiles of sports sciences students.

Keywords

• Optimism
• Pessimism
• Sports Sciences Students

Project Number

PROTOKOL NO: 2024/76

Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin İyimserlik ve Karamsarlık Düzeylerinin Çeşitli Değişkenler Açısından İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencilerinin iyimserlik ve karamsarlık düzeylerini çeşitli demografik ve sportif değişkenler açısından incelemektir.

Yöntem: Betimsel ve ilişkisel tarama modeliyle yürütülen çalışmaya 361 öğrenci (Kadın: n=160, %44,3; Erkek: n=201, %55,7) gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Veri toplama aracı olarak Tekkurşun Demir (2022) tarafından geliştirilen SİVKÖ kullanılmıştır. Bağımsız t-testi, tek yönlü ANOVA ve regresyon analizleri uygulanmıştır.

Bulgular: Cinsiyet karamsarlık boyutunda anlamlı farklılık yaratmış; kadın öğrenciler erkeklere kıyasla daha yüksek karamsarlık puanı almıştır (t=2,322; p=0,021; d=0,248). Sakatlık deneyimi iyimserlik (d=0,265) ve karamsarlık (d=0,551) düzeyleriyle anlamlı düzeyde ilişkili bulunmuştur. Haftada 3-4 gün antrenman yapanların iyimserlik puanları en yüksek bulunmuştur (F=5,487; p=0,005; η²=0,030). Diğer değişkenlerde anlamlı fark saptanmamıştır.

Sonuç: Yaşın anlamlı bir yordayıcı olmadığı; iyimserlik ile karamsarlığın birbirini anlamlı düzeyde yordadığı görülmüştür (R²=0,021; p=0,006). Sakatlık ve antrenman sıklığı, psikolojik profili şekillendiren temel biyopsikososyal değişkenler olarak belirlenmiştir.

Keywords

• İyimserlik
• Karamsarlık
• Spor bilimleri öğrencileri

Project Number

PROTOKOL NO: 2024/76

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