Evaluation of handball players’ anxiety and depression levels and anxiety about catching the novel coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: This study aims to determine the anxiety, depression and anxiety levels with regard to contracting COVID-19 of professional handball players during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate the associated factors. Material and Methods: A total of 119 handball players aged between 18 and 40 years participated in the study. Research data were collected when the professional leagues were completed, and the Turkish Ministry of Health began to relax restrictions within the country. The socio-demographic characteristics of handball players, training information, factors associated with COVID-19, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Athletes' Anxiety Scale for Catching Novel Coronavirus were used to collect the data. Results: The anxiety levels of male handball players were found to be higher than female handball players (p<0.010). The depression (p=0.016) and COVID-19 anxiety (p=0.015) levels were higher in handball players with weekly training hours of ten hours or less. Conclusion: Maintaining at least ten hours of training per week, even under adverse conditions, such as a pandemic and isolation, may have a positive psychological effect on athletes. Providing psychological support to athletes during certain periods may contribute to the prevention of anxiety and depression in athletes.