Examining the relationship between athlete self-efficacy and perceptions of challenge and threat in sport in kick boxing athletes

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between kick boxing athletes' athlete self-efficacy and their perceptions of challenge and threat in sport. The population of the study consists of male and female participants who continue their active sports life in sports clubs affiliated to the Turkish Kickboxing Federation. The sample of the study consisted of 816 participants who continue their sports life as competitors in the senior category in the Kick boxing branch in Turkey. The sampling group was determined by simple random sampling method. As data collection tools, the Athlete Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES) developed by Koçak (2020) and the Challenge and Threat Scale in Sport (STS), originally developed by Rossato, Uphill, Swain, and Coleman (2018), were adapted into Turkish by Türkyılmaz and Altıntaş (2020). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was applied to the data before the relevant analyzes were performed, and since the data showed normal distribution, independent sample test (T-test), One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Pearson Correlation Test were used. Statistical significance level was determined as p<0.05. There was a significant difference between genders and age groups in psychological efficacy sub-dimension, personality efficacy sub-dimension and athlete self-efficacy mean scores, where male athletes had higher efficacy than female athletes and the difference was statistically significant; however, there was a significant difference between genders in struggle and threat scale mean scores and sub-dimension values. It is stated that there is a significant difference between the mean values of Threat sub-dimension and ITS among age groups. According to the marital status variable, it is seen that the mean values of married athletes are higher than single athletes in Psychological competence and Personality competence sub-dimensions and this difference is statistically significant. There is a significant difference between the groups according to the marital status variable in the threat sub-dimension and ITS mean scores. A significant difference was found in the sub-dimensions of Sport Branch Competence, Psychological Competence and Personality Competence according to the education levels of the athletes. However, it is noteworthy that the educational level is an effective variable on the average scores of the Challenge and Threat scale and the average scores of the Threat sub-dimension of the scale. Depending on the income status of the athletes and the year of doing sports, it was determined that the athletes were an effective factor on the scores of the athlete self-efficacy level scale and its sub-dimensions. Depending on the duration of practicing sports, a significant difference was found between the groups in the mean values of the Threat sub-dimension of the Challenge and Threat Scale. A statistically significant difference was determined between the mean scores of the Sport Branch Competence sub-dimension of the Athlete Self-Efficacy Level scale according to the sport sub-branch variable. On the other hand, there is a significant change between the total mean scores of the Challenge and Threat Scale and the mean values of its sub-dimensions depending on the sport sub-discipline variable. According to the nationality status variable, while it was observed as an effective factor on the mean scores of the Athlete Self-Efficacy Level scale and the mean values belonging to the sub-dimension of the Sport Branch Competence of this scale, it was determined that it was not an effective factor on both the mean values of the Challenge and Threat Scale and the sub-dimensions of this scale. In line with these results, women have higher self-efficacy compared to men, and self-efficacy is positively affected as the number of years of practicing sports increases, and as the level of education and income increases. In addition, the perception of struggle and threat decreases as the duration of doing sports and education level increases.