Comparison of Covid-19 Anxiety, Coping Styles and Health Anxiety in Athletic and Non-Athletic Students

This study aimed to compare COVID-19 anxiety, coping styles, and health anxiety in athletic and non-athletic students. The statistical population of the study consisted of all student-athletes and non-athletes in the year 2020. Of these, 220 (110 student-athletes and 110 non-athlete students) participated in the study through an online call. Data were collected using the COVID-19 Anxiety Inventory Wheaton et all., Endler and Parker Coping Styles Scale, and Salkovskis et all Health Anxiety Questionnaire. The results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that COVID-19 anxiety, emotion-oriented, and avoidant coping styles, and health anxiety were less in athletic students than non-athlete students and more problem-oriented coping styles. Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that exercising during the 2019 Coronavirus epidemic can significantly reduce the anxiety caused by this unknown virus and the severity of possible problems caused by the COVID-19 also prevent.