The relationship between recreationel area participation barriers and communication skills: A study on elite athletes

The purpose of this study is to examine the barriers to recreational participation and communication skills of elite taekwondo athletes and to evaluate the relationship between these two variables. In this research, since the relationship between recreational participation barriers and communication skills of elite taekwondo athletes was investigated, a relational screening model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The population of the study consists of elite taekwondo athletes in the Ordu province, while the sample includes 194 taekwondo athletes selected using a convenience sampling method. Data collection tools included a personal information form, the Recreation Participation Barriers Scale developed by Gümüş and Özgül (2017), and the Communication Skills Evaluation Scale developed by Korkut and Bugay (2014). SPSS 27 software was used for data analysis. Independent Sample T-Test was applied for comparisons between two groups, and ANOVA test was used for comparing more than two groups. Post hoc tests were applied for differences between groups. To assess the relationship between recreational participation barriers and communication skills, Pearson Correlation analysis was conducted. The significance level was set at p<0.05. As a result of the study, differences were identified according to gender, marital status, education level, and sports experience. Additionally, significant relationships were found between the Communication Skills Evaluation Scale and the Recreation Participation Barriers Scale. Based on the findings, various recommendations were made to encourage athletes' participation in recreational activities and improve their communication skills.