Open Access

Injury or knowledge of prevention? An investigation of injury anxiety and prevention awareness among student athletes

1 Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Ağrı, Türkiye ROR
2 Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Ağrı, Türkiye ROR
3 Ozkent Akbilek Secondary School, Ankara, Turkiye,Ozkent Akbilek Secondary School, Ankara, Turkey
4 Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Ağrı, Türkiye ROR

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between injury-related fears and injury prevention awareness among student athletes, with a focus on selected demographic variables. The research was conducted with students enrolled in the Faculty of Sport Sciences. Data were analyzed in relation to gender, injury history, age, income level, and academic department in order to identify differences in both injury-related anxiety and awareness of preventive strategies. The findings showed no significant differences between male and female students. Athletes with previous injuries reported higher levels of both injury prevention awareness and injury-related fear. Younger participants (18–23 years) exhibited greater anxiety regarding being perceived as weak, disappointing significant others, and losing social support compared to students aged 24 and above. In addition, middle- and high-income groups demonstrated higher awareness of injury prevention and health management. Finally, students in sport and coaching programs reported higher fear scores related to being perceived as weak compared to those in sport management and recreation. These results underscore the need to provide student athletes with targeted education on pre- and post-injury processes, strengthen social and psychosocial support mechanisms, and ensure access to health services. Developing sport-specific prevention programs and employing longitudinal research designs are recommended for future studies.

Keywords

How to Cite

Karatas, B., Doner, H., Eskil, R., & Aka, S. T. (2025). Injury or knowledge of prevention? An investigation of injury anxiety and prevention awareness among student athletes. Journal of ROL Sport Sciences, 6(3), 453–468. https://doi.org/10.70736/jrolss.2039

References

📄 Armağan, P. (2021). Kadın sporcularda yaralanma kaygı düzeyinin ve başa çıkma stratejilerinin incelenmesi (Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi). Trakya Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Anabilim Dalı, Edirne, Türkiye.
📄 Aydoğan, Z. (2014). Sakatlık sırasında ve tedavi sonrasında sporculardaki psikolojik değişiklikler (Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi). Ankara Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye.
📄 Bağrıaçık, A., & Açak, M. (2005). Spor yaralanmaları ve rehabilitasyon. Morpa Kültür Yayınları.
📄 Budak, H., Sanioğlu, A., Keretli, Ö., Durak, A., & Öz, B. (2020). Spor yaralanmasının kaygı üzerindeki etkileri. Kilis 7 Aralık Üniversitesi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 4(1), 38–47.
📄 Caz, Ç., Kayhan, R. F., & Bardakçı, S. (2019). Spor yaralanması kaygı ölçeğinin Türkçeye uyarlanması: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Spor Hekimliği Dergisi, 54(1), 52–63. [Crossref]