Reviewing sports sciences students’ perceived freedom levels in leisure in terms of any variables (Kocaeli university case)

¹ Kocaeli University Sports Sciences Faculty Recreation Department
² Kocaeli University Sports Sciences Faculty Physical Education and Sports Teaching Department

^* Corresponding author: ysmkormukcu@gmail.com

Abstract

This study was executed with the aim of investigating whether the perceived freedom levels of students who study in the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences vary by any variables. The target population of the study composed of 240 voluntary students who study at Kocaeli University, the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 132 (55%) of whom was female and 108 (45%) of whom were male. Perceived Freedom in Leisure Scale, which was developed by Witt and Ellis (1985) and adopted into Turkish by [21] was used as the data collection tool of the study. Kolmogrov-Smirnof test analyzed whether the data showed normal distribution and it was observed that data do not display a normal distribution. As a result of this, Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H tests were applied. The significance level was considered as 0,05. No significant difference was identified between perceived freedom levels in leisure by means of certain variables such as gender, department, participation in social activities, approximate participation in recreation activities and frequency of leisure participation (p>0,05). A significant difference was found between knowledge and skill – excitement and joy by means of participation in sportive activities, participation in cultural and artistic activities and competence in recreation areas (p<0,05). Consequently, when knowledge and skill – excitement and joy sub-dimensions of students who use their recreational areas, attend to sportive and artistic activities were evaluated, it was seen that individuals who actively participate in any activity may perceive him or herself freer when he or she is compared to the individuals who participate in an activity in a passive way. Therefore, a further activity participation sense may be created.