Determining the levels of social anxiety and emotion regulation difficulties among youth participating in sports courses at youth centers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social anxiety levels and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents participating in sports courses at youth centers. The study included 206 young individuals (64.6% female and 35.4% male), aged 11-18, attending youth center courses across Turkey. A Google Forms survey was used for data collection, applying a convenience sampling method to reach 206 youth center participants. Data were collected using social anxiety and emotion regulation scales applied to individuals residing in a specific geographical region. The findings reveal that social anxiety levels are significantly associated with demographic factors such as age, gender, and parental education (p<0.05). Furthermore, adolescents with high levels of social anxiety are more likely to experience difficulties in emotion regulation (p<0.05). The results underscore the impact of social anxiety and emotional challenges during adolescence on psychological well-being and highlight the importance of intervention programs aimed at fostering emotional and social development among adolescents. These findings can serve as a resource for future research and practical applications, contributing to the development of strategies to reduce social anxiety in adolescents.