Health anxiety status of elite athletes in COVID-19 social isolation period.

AIM: The aim of this study is to examine the health anxiety states and behaviours of athletes during the social isolation period due to COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: 250 elite athletes participated in the study. 154 of the participants were males and 96 were females. Health Anxiety Scale was used to determine the health anxiety states of the participants in the COVID-19 pandemic process. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that athletes who were tested for COVID-19 and who thought they had symptoms of the disease had higher levels of health anxiety and athletes who reported a temporary loss in athletic performance had higher disease anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation process have some effects on athletes' health anxiety. It will be beneficial to provide psychological support in this period for athletes to have a fast return to competitions and match after the pandemic (Tab. 5, Ref. 24).