INTERNET ADDICTION AND COGNITIVE-PSYCHOEMOTIONAL STATUS OF ATHLETES IN TEAM SPORTS

Аннотация

This article presents the results of a comparative analysis of internet addiction levels and cognitive indicators among athletes in team sports — football, basketball, and volleyball — aged 16–21 years, taking gender differences into account. The study included 96 athletes. Internet addiction was assessed using Kimberly Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), cognitive functions were evaluated using Shulte tables, the Stroop test, the proofreading task, and the MoCA scale, and psychoemotional status was assessed through anxiety measures. The results showed that the highest level of internet addiction was observed among volleyball players, while the lowest was among football players (p < 0.05). An increase in addiction severity was associated with decreased information processing speed, attention concentration, cognitive control, and overall cognitive level. Gender analysis revealed that female athletes exhibited higher levels of internet addiction and anxiety compared to male athletes. Correlation analysis confirmed a statistically significant relationship between internet addiction, impaired cognitive performance, and increased anxiety, with the strongest association observed in volleyball players.