Examining the psychological skill levels of physically disabled athletes in terms of different variables

The aim of the study was to examine the psychological skill levels of physically disabled athletes across different variables. In this study, a quantitative research method, specifically the survey model, was used. The population of the study consists of a total of 212 physically disabled athletes, including 163 males and 49 females, who participated in competitions on behalf of sports clubs in the disability category. In the study, the data collection tools used were a Personal Information form (including gender, age, education level, type of disability, degree of disability, sport branch, sports history, and national athlete status) and the Athlete Psychological Skills Assessment Scale. The scales were transferred to an online platform, allowing physically disabled athletes to answer the questions in a digital environment. IBM SPSS 25.0 statistical software was used for the analysis of the obtained data. In the study, distribution analysis, descriptive analysis, and parametric hypothesis tests, including independent samples t-test and One-Way ANOVA, were used. To determine the differences between groups, Post-hoc (LSD) analysis was employed. In the study, when examining the total scores obtained from the Athlete Psychological Skills Assessment Scale, it was concluded that the athletes' psychological skill levels differ based on factors such as gender, age, education level, type of disability, degree of disability, sport branch, sports history, and national athlete status. Demographic factors such as gender, age, and education level created significant differences, particularly in skills such as coping with difficulties, openness to learning, and motivation for success. Additionally, the type and degree of disability played a role in the development of psychological skills. Athletes with sports experience demonstrated higher performance in psychological skills, indicating that experience contributes to the development of these skills.