An examination of the relationship between social intelligence levels and aptitude for physical education among secondary school students

This research aims to examine in detail the relationship between the social intelligence levels of secondary school students and their aptitude for physical education classes, considering various variables. The sample consists of 481 students in total, 296 of whom are female and 185 are male. Data collection tools included a personal information form developed by the researcher, the Tromso Social Intelligence Scale, and the Physical Education Aptitude Scale. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Turkish (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) 22 software package. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS software package. It was determined that the data showed a normal distribution, and descriptive statistics, Independent Samples T-Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance, and Pearson Correlation Analysis were used in the analyses. According to the findings, female students had higher social intelligence scores than male students, but their aptitude for physical education was significantly lower than that of male students (p<0,05). It was found that licensed athlete students had higher social intelligence and aptitude for physical education than non-athlete students (p<0,05). A low-level positive and significant correlation was found between students’ social intelligence levels and their aptitude for physical education (p<0,05). In conclusion, it appears that regular participation in sports increases students’ interest and aptitude for physical education. Furthermore, it can be said that sports contribute to the development of students’ social intelligence levels, strengthen their communication skills, facilitate their adaptation to the social environment, and make them more active, self-confident, and socially well-adjusted individuals.