Investigation of the relationship between social media use and leisure behaviors of amateur football players

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between amateur football players' social media usage behaviors and leisure behaviors and to determine whether social media usage behaviors differ according to various demographic, sportive, and individual variables. Within the theoretical framework of the study, the concept and historical development of sport, the concept of social media, social media applications, the relationship between sport and social media, and the concepts of leisure and free time were comprehensively examined. Furthermore, the effects of digitalization on athletes' leisure behaviors were evaluated in light of the relevant literature. This study employed a correlational survey design within the framework of quantitative research methods. The sample consisted of 233 male amateur football players actively competing at different league levels. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Athlete Social Media Usage Behaviors Scale, and the Leisure Management Scale to evaluate participants' leisure behaviors. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, the independent samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed for data analysis. The findings revealed a low-level, negative, and statistically significant relationship between social media usage behaviors and leisure behaviors. While age and income level were found to have significant effects on certain sub-dimensions of social media usage behaviors, no significant differences were observed with respect to years of playing amateur football, league level, playing position, weekly training frequency, leisure activities, or family support. Furthermore, daily social media usage duration and the purpose of social media use were identified as significant predictors of social media usage behaviors. The findings indicate that social media usage behaviors are more closely associated with individual characteristics and usage habits than with sportive characteristics. Consequently, social media can be regarded not only as a means of communication and interaction for amateur football players but also as an important digital environment influencing their leisure behaviors.