Investigation of University Students' Recreation Benefit Awareness and Physical Activity Levels

Physical activity level is an important factor that affects health of people of all ages and awareness level about the benefits obtained from recreational activities may increase the frequency of participation. The objective of the study is to review the correlation between university students’ recreation benefit awareness and their physical activity levels and to demonstrate whether or not there is a difference about this subject in terms of gender and faculty. A total of 909 university students 541 female students and 368 male students who studied at different universities in Turkey joined the study. Information Request Form, Leisure Benefit Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered to the participants. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Analysis and Independent Samples t Test. The study results indicate that there is a positive correlation between participants’ recreation benefit awareness and their physical activity levels. Besides, it is seen that female participants’ physical and psychological recreation benefit awareness was higher; however, as for the male participants their physical activity levels were higher. It was identified that of the participant students, those who studied on sports sciences had higher psychological and social recreation benefit awareness and physical activity levels. In light of the study findings, the fact that the university students’ benefit awareness perception on recreational activities had increased made a positive contribution to their physical activity levels and dimensions of recreation benefit awareness and as a result, physical activity levels differed in terms of gender and the type of the faculty.