Psychosocial experiences of elite taekwon-Do athletes during training and competition processes: A qualitative study
Keywords:
Elite athletes, psychosocial factors, qualitative researchAbstract
The aim of this study is to explore in depth the psychosocial factors experienced by elite-level taekwondo athletes during training and pre-competition periods using a descriptive phenomenological approach. In the literature, this topic is predominantly addressed through quantitative methods; however, such studies often fall short in capturing athletes’ subjective experiences and individual perceptions. Therefore, the current research adopts a descriptive phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research approaches. The study group consists of 10 elite taekwondo athletes (5 female, 5 male) who were selected through purposive sampling and are actively competing at national and international levels in Türkiye. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview form and analyzed with MAXQDA 2020 software. During the analysis process, both content analysis and descriptive analysis techniques were employed, and the obtained data were organized into codes, categories, and themes. The findings revealed that athletes’ experiences during training and competition preparation processes were grouped under the main theme of “Psychosocial Factors and Responses,” which was further divided into six categories: Psychological-Emotional, Cognitive-Mental, Behavioral, Physical-Physiological, Social-Environmental, and Other Factors. These findings underscore the necessity of adopting a holistic support approach that addresses not only physical preparation but also the psychosocial needs of athletes during the pre-competition period.
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