Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology Vol.6 Issue.2

Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.24.2.07

RESEARCH ARTICLE / ARAŞTIRMA YAZISI

Comparison of State Anxiety Levels of Strong and Weak Competitors in the Iraqi First League Basketball

Irak Birinci Ligi’nde Basketbol Oynayan Güçlü ve Zayıf Rakiplerin Durumluk Kaygı Düzeylerinin Karşılaştırılması

Deniz Erdağ1, Sizar Salim Sadiq2, Mustafa Behlül3, Bingül Harmancı4

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to compare the state anxiety levels of strong and weak competitors playing basketball in the Iraqi First League. The research focused on identifying the cognitive and somatic anxiety levels when strong teams play against weak teams, and vice versa. It also aimed to measure the cognitive and somatic anxiety levels across three games: strong teams versus weak teams and strong teams versus other strong teams. The study sample comprised 32 male athletes from four teams, all participants in Iraq’s First Division Basketball League. A descriptive research method was employed, and data were collected using a questionnaire-based approach. Specifically, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory questionnaire was utilized, which was translated into Arabic by two English language experts to ensure reliability and validity. The results indicated a significant difference in both somatic and cognitive anxiety levels between weak and strong teams, confirming the initial hypothesis. Additionally, the findings showed significant differences in anxiety levels when strong teams played against weak teams compared to when strong teams played against other strong teams. In conclusion, the study demonstrated a clear difference in state anxiety levels between strong and weak basketball competitors in the Iraqi First Division Basketball League.

Keywords: Basketball, Anxiety, Cognitive, Somatic, Self-confidence

1Assoc. Prof. Dr., Near East University, Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Nicosia, Cyprus, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1740-7726, e-mail: [email protected]

2Msc., Near East University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Nicosia, Cyprus

3Assit. Prof. Dr., Near East University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Department of Coaching Education, Nicosia, Cyprus, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5443-1322

4Dr., Near East University, Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Psychology, Nicosia, Cyprus, Orcid ID: 0000-0003-3633-622X

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Deniz Erdağ, Near East University, Lefkoşa-Kıbrıs, Mersin 10 Turkey, e-mail: [email protected]

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 05.04.2023, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 23.04.2024, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 28.05.2024, Date of Online Publication/Çevirimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 26.06.2024

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Erdağ, D., Sadiq S.S., Behlül, M.& Harmancı, B. (2024). Comparison of State Anxiety Levels of Strong and Weak Competitors in the Iraqi First League Basketball, Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 6(2): 166-176

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/