Optimism and Pessimism Levels of Sports Sciences Students by Various Variables

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Optimism
• Pessimism
• Sports Sciences Students

Proje Numarası

PROTOKOL NO: 2024/76

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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• İyimserlik
• Karamsarlık
• Spor bilimleri öğrencileri

Proje Numarası

PROTOKOL NO: 2024/76

Kaynakça

1. Angosto, S., Salmeron-Banos, L., Ortin-Montero, F. J., Morales-Banos, V. and Borrego-Balsalobre, F. J. (2021). Mood, burnout, and dispositional optimism in kayak polo players during their competitive stage. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 667603. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.667603
2. Arindi, E. (2025). Iyimserlik, karamsarlik ve psikolojik performans iliskisi [Unpublished work]. Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University.
3. Arindi, E., Adilogullari, I. and Ozgider, C. (2025). Factors affecting how well athletes perform mentally: The impact of optimism, pessimism, and mental well-being. Preprint. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6865136/v1
4. Astuti, R., Orhan, R., Karacam, A., Erianti, F. and Govindasamy, K. (2024). Mindfulness and sport performance: The role of optimism as a mediating variable. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 24(3), 412-419.
5. Bozdag, F. and Demirbilek, M. (2025). Mental resilience and psychological well-being among sports sciences faculty students. Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 19(1), 44-58.
6. Carver, C. S. and Scheier, M. F. (2014). Dispositional optimism. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 18(6), 293-299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2014.02.003
7. Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
8. George, D. and Mallery, P. (2010). SPSS for Windows step by step: A simple guide and reference (10th ed.). Pearson.

9. Ghyaidh, H. R. (2025). Optimism and pessimism and their relationship to academic achievement in football among students of the college of physical education and sports sciences. Indonesian Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 5(4), 511-522. https://doi.org/10.52188/ijpess.v5i4.1584
10. Hussain, I., Ahmad, M. and Fatima, R. (2023). The impact of sports optimism on sports performance. Journal of Education and Social Studies, 4(1), 16-26. https://doi.org/10.52223/jess.20234102
11. Karhu, J., Veijola, J., Leinonen, A. M., Niemela, M., Tammelin, T. H. and Hintsanen, M. (2025). Dispositional optimism and pessimism in relation to physical activity and fitness in adulthood: a 15-year follow-up study. Psychology and Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2025.2587629
12. Karasar, N. (2020). Bilimsel arastirma yontemi: Kavramlar, ilkeler, teknikler (35th ed.). Nobel Akademik Yayincilik.
13. Kemper, C. J., Beierlein, C., Kovaleva, A. and Rammstedt, B. (2012). Eine Kurzskala zur Messung von Optimismus und Pessimismus: Die Skala Optimismus-Pessimismus-2 (SOP2). GESIS-Working Papers, 2012(15), 1-19.
14. Kurova, A., Popovych, I., Hrys, A., Koval, I., Pavliuk, M., Polishchuk, S. and Kolly-Shamne, A. (2023). Dispositional optimistic and pessimistic mental states of young athletes: Gender differentiation. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 23(4), 857-867. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2023.04109
15. Kurt, A. and Yaman, C. (2024). The relationship between optimism and life satisfaction in university students: The case of sports sciences. Journal of Sports Sciences Research, 9(2), 178-191.
16. Nicholls, A. R., Polman, R. C. J., Levy, A. R. and Backhouse, S. Y. (2008). Mental toughness, optimism, pessimism, and coping among athletes. Personality and Individual Differences, 44(5), 1182-1192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2007.11.011
17. Ortin-Montero, F. J., Martinez-Rodriguez, A., Reche-Garcia, C., Garces de los Fayos-Ruiz, E. J. and Gonzalez- Hernandez, J. (2018). Relationship between optimism and athletic performance: Systematic review. Anales de Psicologia, 34(1), 153-161. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.34.1.270351
18. Ozmaden, M., Guler, H., Dokuzoglu, G. and Saracoglu, M. (2025). Optimism and pessimism perceptions in sports from the perspective of combat sports athletes. International Journal of Eurasian Education and Culture, 10(29), 131-142. https://doi.org/10.35826/ijoecc.2866
19. Reche, C., Gomez-Diaz, M., Martinez-Rodriguez, A. and Tutte, V. (2018). El optimismo como contribucion a la resiliencia deportiva. Revista Iberoamericana de Psicologia del Ejercicio y el Deporte, 13(1), 131-136.
20. Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S. and Bridges, M. W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism: A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(6), 1063-1078. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.67.6.1063
21. Song, H. and Lee, D. (2021). The effect of optimism on sport performance: The mediating role of self-regulation and coping strategies during COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), 4980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094980
22. Tan, C. and Tuzemen, M. A. (2025). The relationship between high school students' attitudes toward sport and their optimism and pessimism personality levels: The case of Istanbul province. Journal of Physical Education, Sport, Health and Effort, 4(4), 50-65.
23. Tekkursun Demir, G. (2022). Athletes' Optimism and Pessimism Scale (AOPS): Validity and reliability study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33(4), 197-211.
24. Wilson, G. S., Raglin, J. S. and Pritchard, M. E. (2002). Optimism, pessimism, and precompetition anxiety in college athletes. Personality and Individual Differences, 32(5), 893-902. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00094-0
25. Yücekaya, M. A., Ugras, S., Sagin, A. E., Mergan, B., Temel, C. and Aslan, M. (2025). The effect of pessimism on mental health and tendency to physical violence: The mediating role of psychological strain. Acta Psychologica, 261, 105844.