Examination of stress, aggression and nutrition relationship of cycling athletes during the Covid-19 epidemic

The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between stress, aggression and nutrition of cyclists during the Covid-19 epidemic. Within the scope of the purpose of the research, the universe of the research consists of the athletes who took part in two different competitions organized in the province of Antalya, and a total of 492 athletes participated in the AKRA Gran Fondo and 120 min bicycle race organized by private organizations. The sample group consists of 144 cyclists who participated in the competitions and voluntarily participated in our research. In order to collect the data, the Perceived Stress Scale developed by Cohen, Kamarck and Mermelstein (1983), adapted into Turkish by Eskin, Harlak, Demirkıran, and Dereboy (2013), and the Aggression in Sport and Anger Scale developed by Maxwell and Moores (2007) and adapted into Turkish by Gürbüz, Kural and Özbek (2019). The data were analyzed in computer environment using IBM SPSS 22.00 (Statistics for Windows). Number, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used as descriptive statistical methods in the evaluation of the data. Independent sample t-test was used in pairwise comparisons and one-way analysis of variance was used in multiple comparisons; LSD test was applied to determine the difference. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis (r) was applied to reveal the relationship between the scores obtained from the scales. The significance value was accepted as p<0.05. The findings obtained as a result of the research were interpreted and examined in comparison with the research findings made on this subject in the relevant literature. According to the results obtained from the research; It has been determined that the athletes who use energy-enhancing nutrients just before the training or race are more aggressive than the athletes who do not. It has been concluded that the athletes whose club is responsible for the nutrition of the athletes while they are in the race camps are more aggressive than the athletes who plan their nutrition themselves. When stress levels are examined according to genders; It has been found that women are more stressed than men. It has been determined that the stress levels of the athletes who do not pay attention to their nutrition are higher than the athletes who pay attention to their nutrition. It has been determined that the stress levels of the athletes who believe that they are adequately nourished are lower than the athletes who do not believe that they are adequately fed. It has been determined that the stress levels of the athletes who do not have breakfast in the morning are higher. A positive correlation was found between the perceived stress total scores of the cyclists participating in the study and the aggression and anger scale total scores (r=.275, p=.001). While a positive correlation was found with the total scores of perceived stress and the aggression sub-dimension (r=.315, p=.000), which is one of the sub-headings of the aggression and anger scale, when the sub-dimensions of the scale of perceived stress were examined; A positive correlation was found between the perception of insufficient self-efficacy and the total score of the aggression and anger scale (r=.195, p=.019). When the sub-dimensions of the aggression and anger scale were examined, a positive correlation was found with the aggression sub-dimension (r=.249, p=.003). A positive correlation was found between the stress/discomfort perception sub-dimension and the total score of the aggression and anger scale (r=.308, p=.000). When the sub-dimensions of the aggression and anger scale were examined, a positive correlation was found with the aggression sub-dimension (r=.332, p=.000) and the anger sub-dimension (r=.169, p=.043). Keywords: Covid-19, Cycling, Nutrition, Aggression, Stress