The Effect of Isolation on Social Physique Anxiety and Fat Phobia in Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 and social isolation have caused quite important changes in the lives of athletes. The uncertainties introduced by this period could lead to various anxieties and phobias in athletes as well as certain mental concerns Aim: This study examined whether social physique anxiety and fat phobia in athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation period. Methods: The study included 1031 sub-elite athletes (446 females, 585 males) in individual and team sports aged between 18-27. The social physique anxiety scale (SPAS) and fat phobia scale (FPS) were used as data collection tools Results: Significant difference were found in SPAS levels between team and individual sports, the lowest SPAS levels were in the male individual sports athletes (p<0.05). There were differences in both male and female athletes according to regular training status (p<0.05). In athletes' status of being diagnosed COVID-19, significant difference was found in negative physique evaluation concerns (NPEC) subscale of SPAS between female and male groups without a positive diagnosis (p<0.05). Correlations were found between SPAS and FPS levels in all athletes (p<0.05). Conclusion: SPAS levels were the lowest particularly in male athletes involved in individual sports. SPAS levels of athletes who did and did not regularly train during the isolation were found to be the lowest in male athletes who regularly trained. It was established that the positive diagnosis of COVID-19 did not affect SPAS levels much in athletes; however, female athletes with a positive diagnosis showed high SPAS levels. None of the independent variables in this study was found to create any difference in FPS scores, but the correlation analysis revealed significantly increased FPS levels with increasing SPAS levels. In general, SPAS and FP levels of all athletes were moderate.