Empathy trend of student-athletes in Turkey: Ardahan example

The aim of the study is to analyze empathy tendencies among students who are involved in sporting activities at Ardahan Province. In accordance with this aim, this study has been conducted through the survey modelling of quantitative research methods. For the data analysis, T-Testing and ANOVA were applied. According to the obtained findings, it is detected that there is a significant difference in the ability of empathy in accordance with the duration of playing sports. The ability for empathy of those who play sports for 1 to 2 years is lower than the others. Along with this, the 9th question has the maximum value within the scale with the average value of 4.1089. The minimum value, on the other hand, belongs to the 12th question with the value of 3.586. The general average of the scale is within the level of agree with the value of 3.8215. Therefore, it can be said that the perception and level of empathic tendency is high. As a result, it would be accurate to claim that the empathic tendency levels of student-sportspeople in the province of Ardahan are relatively high and that the age of the participants is the determinant factor in their empathic behavior.   Key words: Sports, empathy, fairplay, sportsmanship.