Investigation of Kinesiophobia, Psychological Performance and Achievement Motivation Levels of Athletes

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the relationships among athletes' levels of kinesiophobia, psychological performance, and achievement motivation, as well as the effects of variables such as gender, sport branch, sports license, and athletic background on these concepts. The research was conducted using quantitative methods and designed as a descriptive study, involving a total of 371 athletes. The "Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale", the "Psychological Performance Assessment in Sports Scale" and the "Sport Specific Achievement Motivation Scale" were utilized for data collection. The data exhibited a normal distribution and were analyzed using parametric methods. No significant differences were observed concerning the gender variable. However, statistically significant differences were identified in kinesiophobia levels based on sport branch, in both kinesiophobia and achievement motivation levels based on sports license, and in achievement motivation levels based on athletic background. Additionally, a weak negative correlation was found between kinesiophobia and psychological performance, while a moderate positive correlation was identified between psychological performance and achievement motivation. In this context, it is suggested that gender, sport branch, sports license, and athletic background are significant variables influencing kinesiophobia, psychological performance, and achievement motivation, and that the relationships among these concepts may directly impact athletes' performance.

Keywords

• Kinesiophobia
• Psychological Performance
• Achievement Motivation
• Athletic Performance

Sporcuların Kinezyofobi, Psikolojik Performans ve Başarı Motivasyonu Düzeylerinin İncelenmesi

Öz

Çalışma, sporcuların kinezyofobi, psikolojik performans ve başarı motivasyonu düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkileri ve cinsiyet, spor branşı, spor lisansı ve sportif geçmiş gibi değişkenlerin bu kavramlar üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Nicel araştırma yöntemlerinin kullanıldığı ve betimsel desenle tasarlanan çalışmaya toplam 371 sporcu katılmıştır. Veri toplama sürecinde “Tampa Kinezyofobi Ölçeği”, “Sporda Psikolojik Performans Değerlendirme Ölçeği” ve “Spora Özgü Başarı Motivasyonu Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Verilerin normal dağılım gösterdiği belirlenmiş ve analizler parametrik yöntemler ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Cinsiyet değişkenine ilişkin anlamlı bir farklılık tespit edilmezken, spor branşı değişkenine göre kinezyofobi düzeylerinde, spor lisansı değişkenine göre hem kinezyofobi hem de başarı motivasyonu düzeylerinde ve sportif geçmiş değişkenine göre başarı motivasyonu düzeylerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılıklar bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, kinezyofobi ile psikolojik performans arasında zayıf düzeyde negatif bir korelasyon, psikolojik performans ile başarı motivasyonu arasında ise orta düzeyde pozitif bir korelasyon belirlenmiştir. Bu bağlamda, cinsiyet, spor branşı, spor lisansı ve sportif geçmiş değişkenlerinin kinezyofobi, psikolojik performans ve başarı motivasyonu üzerinde önemli değişkenler olduğu ve bu kavramlar arasındaki ilişkilerin sporcuların performansını doğrudan etkileyebileceği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kinezyofobi
• Psikolojik Performans
• Başarı Motivasyonu
• Atletik Performans

References

1. Alpar, R. (2001). Applied statistics in sports sciences (2nd ed.). Nobel Publishing.
2. Aydın, A. (2001). Human nature in the context of the history of thought. Productivity Journal, 2000(1), 7–38.
3. Aydoğan, H., & Konaş, Y. (2022). Development study of psychological performance evaluation scale in sports. Journal of Sports Education, 6(1), 74–87. https://doi.org/10.55238/seder.1096524
4. Aydoğdu, C., Şahan, A., & Erdem, K. A. (2018). Examination of the effect of sports-specific achievement motivation level on competition performance in young tennis players. Abant İzzet Baysal University Journal of Faculty of Education, 18(2), 655–666. https://doi.org/10.17240/aibuefd.2018..-431408
5. Baltacı, A. (2018). A conceptual review on sampling methods in qualitative research and the problematic of sample size. Bitlis Eren University Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences, 7(1), 231–274.
6. Bayram, L. (2006). A new alternative to traditional performance evaluation methods: 360-degree performance evaluation. Court of Accounts Journal, (62), 47–65.
7. Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2014). Handbook of data analysis for social sciences. Pegem Academy.
8. Cox, R. H. (1990). Sport psychology: Concepts and applications (2nd ed.). Wm. C. Brown Publishers.

9. Crust, L. (2009). The relationship between mental toughness and affect intensity. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(8), 959–963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.07.023
10. Cüceloğlu, D. (1999). Human and behavior. Remzi Publishing House.
11. Çakıroğlu, T. (1987). Coach-athlete relationships and the importance of sports psychology in success [Master’s thesis, Gazi University, Institute of Social Sciences].
12. Erkış, U. (2014). Applicability of performance management in public institutions: 360-degree performance evaluation technique (Case of Antalya province) [Doctoral dissertation, Selçuk University, Institute of Social Sciences].
13. Filiz, B., & Demirhan, G. (2018). Examination of the relationship between academic and sports achievement motivation. SPORMETRE Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 16(2), 138–152. https://doi.org/10.1501/Sporm_0000000361
14. Gordon, S., & Gucciardi, D. F. (2011). Mental toughness in sport: Developments in theory and research. In D. F. Gucciardi & S. Gordon (Eds.), Mental toughness in sport: Developments in theory and research (pp. 1–28). Routledge.
15. Hayashi, C. T. (1996). Achievement motivation among Anglo-American and Hawaiian male physical activity participants: Individual differences and social contextual factors. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(2), 194–215. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.18.2.194
16. Horsburgh, V. A., Schermer, J. A., Veselka, L., & Vernon, P. A. (2009). A behavioural genetic study of mental toughness and personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 46(2), 100–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2008.09.009
17. Jones, G., Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2002). What is this thing called mental toughness? An investigation of elite sport performers. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14(3), 205–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200290103509
18. Karasar, N. (2009). Scientific research method. Nobel Publishing.
19. Kavas, E. T. (2018). Investigation of volleyball players' achievement motivation levels [Master’s thesis, Sakarya University].
20. Knapik, A., Saulicz, E., & Gnat, R. (2011). Kinesiophobia—Introducing a new diagnostic tool. Journal of Human Kinetics, 28, 25–31.
21. Kubalı, D. (1999). Performance services. Journal of Public Administration, 32(1), 31–62.
22. Kvist, J., Ek, A., Sporrstedt, K., & Good, L. (2005). Fear of re-injury: A hindrance for returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 13(5), 393–397.
23. Larsson, C., Hansson, E. E., Sundquist, K., & Jakobsson, U. (2014). Psychometric properties of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) among older people with chronic pain. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 30(6), 421–428. https://doi.org/10.3109/09593985.2013.877546
24. Lüning Bergsten, C., Lundberg, M., Lindberg, P., & Elfving, B. (2012). Change in kinesiophobia and its relation to activity limitation after multidisciplinary rehabilitation in patients with chronic back pain. Disability and Rehabilitation, 34(10), 852–858. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2011.624247
25. Meier, M. L., Stämpfli, P., Vrana, A., Humphreys, B. K., Seifritz, E., & Hotz-Boendermaker, S. (2016). Neural correlates of fear of movement in patients with chronic low back pain vs. pain-free individuals. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 386. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00386
26. Mungan, S. (1995). Reward and punishment as motivation factors in sports [Master’s thesis, Marmara University].
27. Mutlu, M. E., & Çakmak Yıldızhan, Y. (2023). Investigation of self-efficacy beliefs and sports injury anxiety levels of amateur football players. Akdeniz Journal of Sport Sciences, 6(2), 986–1003. https://doi.org/10.38021/asbid.1374139
28. Oğuz, S. (2025). The effects of aerobic exercise on kinesiophobia, functional capacity, and quality of life in obese patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease [Specialization in Medicine thesis, University of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation].
29. Özer, M. A. (2009). Measurement and evaluation of performance in performance management practices. Court of Accounts Journal, (73), 3–29.
30. Özkal, O., Topuz, S., Konan, A., & Kısmet, K. (2017). Investigation of the relationship between pain, kinesiophobia, balance, and functionality in individuals with lower extremity burn injuries. Ankara Education and Research Hospital Medical Journal, 50(3), 122–128.
31. Phelps, E. A., O'Connor, K. J., Gatenby, J. C., Gore, J. C., Grillon, C., & Davis, M. (2001). Activation of the left amygdala to a cognitive representation of fear. Nature Neuroscience, 4(4), 437–441. https://doi.org/10.1038/86110
32. Riccio, A., Li, Y., Moon, J., Kim, K. S., Smith, K. S., Rudolph, U., & Clapham, D. E. (2009). Essential role for TRPC5 in amygdala function and fear-related behavior. Cell, 137(4), 761–772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2009.03.039
33. Schmidt, A. J. (2003). Does ‘mental kinesiophobia’ exist? Behaviour Research and Therapy, 41(11), 1243–1249. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(03)00036-3
34. Steffen, K., Pensgaard, A. M., & Bahr, R. (2009). Self-reported psychological characteristics as risk factors for injuries in female youth football. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 19(3), 442–451. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00797.x
35. Şahan, H. (2007). The role of sports activities in the socialization process of university students [Master’s thesis, Selçuk University].
36. Terzioğlu, A. E. (1992). The concept of motivation in sports education. Atatürk Faculty of Education Journal of Sports Sciences, 1(2), 11–13.
37. Tiryaki, Ö., & Gödelek, E. (1997). Adaptation study of the Sport-Specific Achievement Motivation Scale for Turkish athletes. Bağırgan Publishing.
38. Ucurum, S. G., & Kalkan, A. C. (2018). The relationship between pain, kinesiophobia, and quality of life in patients with low back pain. Ege Journal of Medicine, 57(3), 131–135.
39. Vlaeyen, J. W., & Linton, S. J. (2000). Fear-avoidance and its consequences in chronic musculoskeletal pain: A state of the art. Pain, 85(3), 317–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3959(99)00242-0
40. Vlaeyen, J. W., Kole-Snijders, A. M., Rotteveel, A. M., Ruesink, R., & Heuts, P. H. (1995). The role of fear of movement (re)injury in pain disability. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 5(4), 235–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02109988
41. Vincent, H. K., Seay, A. N., Montero, C., Conrad, B. P., Hurley, R. W., & Vincent, K. R. (2013). Kinesiophobia and fear-avoidance beliefs in overweight older adults with chronic low back pain: Relationship to walking endurance: Part II. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 92(5), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0b013e31827d4c4b
42. Weiss, M. R., & Troxel, R. K. (2006). Psychology of the injured athlete. Athletic Training, 21(2), 104–154.
43. Willis, J. D. (1982). Three scales to measure competition-related motives in sport. Journal of Sport Psychology, 4(4), 338–353.
44. Özgün, A., Yaşartürk, F., Ayhan, B., & Bozkuş, T. (2017). Investigation of the relationship between sport-specific achievement motivation and happiness levels of handball players. International Journal of Culture and Social Studies, 3(1), 83–94.
45. Yıldız, M. E. (2019). Investigation of the psychological skills of winter sports athletes [Master’s thesis, Atatürk University].
46. Yılmaz, O. T., Yakut, Y., Uygur, F., & Uluğ, N. (2011). The Turkish version of the Tampa scale for kinesiophobia and its test-retest reliability. Fizyoterapi Rehabilitasyon, 22(1), 44–49. Yiğit, Ş. (2019). Investigation of students' sport-specific achievement and motivation levels. Researcher, 7(1), 249–258.