EMOTIONAL EATING AND SOCIAL PHYSIQUE ANXIETY IN ATHLETES OF SPORTS BRANCHES THAT REQUIRE WEIGHT CONTROL

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between emotional eating levels and social physical anxiety levels of athletes in sports branches that require weight category. Study group consisted of athletes from wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, judo, teakwondo and wushu branches. In addition to “Participant Demographic Information Form”, “Emotional Eating Scale”, and “Social Physics Anxiety Inventory” were used as data collection tools. Descriptive statistics, Independent Sample T-Test, One way ANOVA, Post-Hoc tests and Pearson Correlation analysis were used in the evaluation of the obtained data. Participants were found to be low-level emotional eaters. While the level of emotional eating differed significantly by gender, no significant difference was found in the level of social physical anxiety. While there was a significant difference in emotional eating and social physical anxiety levels according to education status and nationality, there was no significant difference according to sports experience. Moreover, a positive and significant relationship was found between emotional eating and social physical anxiety total scores and sub-dimensions. As a result, national athletes are more prone to emotional eating and their social physical anxiety levels are similar to other athletes. In addition, as the emotional eating tendencies of the athletes increase, their social physical anxiety levels also increase.