The economic crisis in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic is affecting the lives, jobs and incomes of a lot of people. Certain sectors of the economy have come to a standstill or stalled for a time, causing many to lose their jobs and be forced to pursue other career options than originally planned. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a deep economic crisis that caused workers to feel insecure, which also had a negative impact on the lives and characteristics of individuals at work. In the course of our research, we conducted a survey of employees in small and medium-sized enterprises in Hungary in order to find out how the coronavirus crisis affected them. In Hungary, the sectors most affected by the epidemic (e.g., hospitality, tourism, automotive) had an intense impact, as the consequences of restrictions on mobility and social distance emerged in the very early stages of the crisis. The survey was conducted in July 2021 after the end of the second wave of the epidemic, with a total of 613 participants. Our results confirmed that the coronavirus crisis had a significant impact on the respondents’ feelings of job insecurity and financial situation. There is a significant connection between the downsizing of Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises and the feeling of job insecurity among employees. There was also a significant link between the organizational measures taken against the crisis and the financial situation of the employees. Thus, based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the coronavirus crisis has had a negative impact on the lives of individuals through the workplaces.

Study purpose. In sports, just like in everyday life, motivation plays an important role in achieving individual goals. Motivation is an individual’s decision to engage in certain activities and make various efforts to do so. Sports require a continuous, constant effort from individuals, so it is even more important here that the athlete has the necessary motivation. Without motivation, it is not possible to do sports at a high level in the long term. The aim of the study was to examine the sports motivation factors of handball players in the Hungarian junior classes. Handball is one of the most popular sports in Hungary. As a result, it can be said that, from the point of view of the long-term success of the sport, it is essential to know the factors that motivate youth athletes. Materials and methods. We collected the data required for the research using a questionnaire. The research took place in the fall of 2022, with 190 youth athletes interviewed. During our research, we established that internal and external motivational factors are equally important for Hungarian youth handball players. Results. With statistical calculations, we show a significant relationship between the athletes’ motivation and the joy caused by sports, the avoidance of disappointment caused to the environment due to the cessation of sports, and the sports results achieved. Conclusions. The results of the study will be a useful resource for those interested in the sport of handball, to better consider the motivational factors that help to understand the motivation of young athletes and which are important in order to consistently provide a high level of performance.