The factors which motivate master-group athletes who run as a serious leisure time activity for running, and to analyze these factors according to different variables and mental well-being levels

This thesis aims to determine the factors which motivate master athletes who run as a serious leisure time activity for running, and to analyze these factors according to different variables and mental well-being levels. The main population of this study, being a descriptive research, consists of individuals aged 35 and older who actively participate run races in the masters age category. The survey study, that was created with the aim of data collection between 2021 and 2022, has been applied either face-to-face or via the electronic questionnaire to 410 master runners who participated in run races between April 2022 and August 2022. The participants were asked the questions by which we can examine their motivational changes in addition to some socio-demographic questions. It has been also aimed to set forth mental well-being levels of the athletes who actively participate in races in age groups and to research the relationship between these and motivational and demographic variables. The questionnaire form developed specifically to this study includes 44 items about demographic information as well as time spent for running, the cost borne by runners, people accompanying them, how long they have been running and the factors that motivate for running. In addition to this, the mental well-being scale composed of 14 questions developed by Warwick-Edinburgh and adapted into Turkish by Gökay Keldal has also been used in the study. The items which may motivate individuals aged 35 and older for running as a serious leisure time activity are categorized under 10 factors in the scale. These include "Commitment to Running Group and Socialization", "Personal Development", "Disengagement", "Well-Being", "Physical Health", "Being Admired/Appreciated", "Serving as a Model", "Competition", "Self-Expression", "Financial/Non-Financial Benefits". When the hypotheses created within scope of the study and the findings obtained as a result of data analysis are evaluated, it has been determined that the mental well-being level of master runners do not change according to race distance and training program they prefer.