Investigation of The Relationship Between Communication Skills, Achievement Motivation, and Anxiety in Exercising and Non-Exercise Women

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between communication skills, sport-specific achievement motivation, and anxiety among women who engage in regular exercise and those who do not. A total of 537 women residing in Istanbul participated in the study, categorized into three groups: 158 women actively engaged in sports, 227 sedentary women, and 152 women in the sedentary + exercise group. The sedentary + exercise group participated in one-hour fitness sessions, three times a week, over the course of eight weeks. Data collection tools included a personal information form, a communication skills inventory, a sport-specific achievement motivation scale, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The analysis revealed significant differences in sport-specific achievement motivation among women who actively engage in sports. Moreover, variations in communication skills and anxiety levels were identified based on age, educational background, and group classification. Women who were actively involved in sports exhibited lower communication skills and achievement motivation levels, but higher levels of anxiety compared to those in the sedentary + exercise group. Similarly, sedentary women demonstrated lower communication skills and achievement motivation, yet higher anxiety levels than the sedentary + exercise group. In conclusion, the findings suggest that women's engagement in physical activity may have significant psychological and communicative implications.