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Journals / Yalova Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 5 Sayı: 1

Evaluation of Sport Activity Imagery States in Athletes During Childhood and Adolescence

ÇOCUKLUK VE GENÇLİK DÖNEMİNDEKİ SPORCULARIN SPOR ETKİNLİĞİ İMGELEME DURUMLARININ DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

Mustafa Baş(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, HAMİDİYE YAŞAM BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, EGZERSİZ VE SPOR BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-4753-9754
Merve Bektaş(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, HAMİDİYE YAŞAM BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, EGZERSİZ VE SPOR BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, EGZERSİZ VE SPOR BİLİMLERİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-4239-7790
Pages
1–11
Publication Date
2026-03-19
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings revealed that gender and type of sport created significant differences in imagery levels.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study aimed to examine the level of mental imagery related to sports activities among athletes in childhood and adolescence in terms of variables such as gender, sports background, athletic success, and type of sport.
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Key Findings & Data:The research was conducted using a general survey model, one of the quantitative research designs, and included 109 actively training athletes (54 males, 55 females) between the ages of 12 and 18 from various sports disciplines.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings revealed that gender and type of sport created significant differences in imagery levels.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2009 Verileri
⚙️Variables:spor · imgeleme · motivasyon

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the level of mental imagery related to sports activities among athletes in childhood and adolescence in terms of variables such as gender, sports background, athletic success, and type of sport. The research was conducted using a general survey model, one of the quantitative research designs, and included 109 actively training athletes (54 males, 55 females) between the ages of 12 and 18 from various sports disciplines. The “Sport Imagery Questionnaire for Children,” developed by Hall et al. (2009) and adapted into Turkish by Kafkas (2011), was used as the data collection tool. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 statistical software. The findings revealed that gender and type of sport created significant differences in imagery levels. Male athletes scored higher in the general cognitive and mastery motivation subdimensions, while athletes in football and swimming demonstrated higher imagery skills in the specific cognitive and motivational subdimensions. On the other hand, no significant differences were observed regarding sports background or athletic achievement. This indicates that mental imagery can develop not only through experience but also as a teachable cognitive skill. The results of the study highlight the necessity of gender- and sport-specific mental training programs for athletes in childhood and adolescence. In this context, supporting mental imagery skills through structured programs at an early age plays a critical role in the cognitive development and performance of young athletes.

Özet

Bu araştırmada, çocukluk ve gençlik dönemindeki sporcuların spor etkinliğini zihinsel olarak imgeleme düzeylerinin; cinsiyet, spor geçmişi, sportif başarı ve spor branşı gibi değişkenler açısından incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Nicel araştırma desenlerinden genel tarama modeli ile yürütülen çalışmada, 12-18 yaş aralığında farklı branşlarda aktif olarak spor yapan 109 sporcu (54 erkek, 55 kadın) yer almıştır. Veri toplama aracı olarak Hall ve arkadaşları (2009) tarafından geliştirilen ve Kafkas (2011) tarafından Türkçeye uyarlanan “Çocuklar için Sporda Hayal Etme” ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin istatistiksel analizleri SPSS 23.0 programı kullanılarak yapılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, cinsiyet ve spor branşı değişkenlerinin imgeleme düzeyleri üzerinde anlamlı fark yarattığını ortaya koymuştur. Erkek sporcular genel bilişsel ve üstünlük yönelimli motivasyon alt boyutlarında daha yüksek puan alırken, futbol ve yüzme sporcuları da özel bilişsel ve motivasyonel alt boyutlarda daha yüksek imgeleme becerileri sergilemiştir. Buna karşın, spor geçmişi ve sportif başarı düzeyine ilişkin değişkenlerde anlamlı fark gözlenmemiştir. Bu durum, zihinsel imgelemenin yalnızca deneyimle değil, öğretilebilir bilişsel bir beceri olarak gelişebileceğini göstermektedir. Araştırma sonuçları, çocukluk ve ergenlik dönemindeki sporcular için cinsiyete ve branşa özgü zihinsel antrenman programlarının gerekliliğine işaret etmektedir. Bu kapsamda, zihinsel imgeleme becerilerinin erken yaşlarda yapılandırılmış programlarla desteklenmesi, sporcuların bilişsel gelişimi ve performansı açısından kritik bir rol oynamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Baş, M., Bektaş, M. (2026). Evaluation of Sport Activity Imagery States in Athletes During Childhood and Adolescence. Yalova Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 1, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.70007/yalovaspor.1713779

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