Investigation of flow experience and leisure satisfaction in participating in digital leisure activities

The aim of this research is to examine the effect of digital leisure participation purposes on flow experience and leisure satisfaction of university students participating in digital leisure activities. Relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the research. Simple random sampling technique was chosen for the sample group. Data collection was carried out at Manisa Celal Bayar University in the fall semester of 2022-2023. The study was carried out with a total of 731 (Age Mean = 20.75± 2,468) participants, 268 women and 463 men. In the form created by the researcher in order to obtain demographic information for the participants, questions of age, gender, regular leisure participation, digital leisure daily participation, digital leisure weekly participation frequency, device used in digital leisure participation and platform used in digital leisure participation were included. As data collection tools in the research, the Digital Leisure Participation Purposes Scale developed by Er and Cengiz (2022), the Digital Leisure Flow Experience Scale developed by Er and Cengiz (2023), and its adaptation to Turkish culture by Gökçe and Orhan (2011) Leisure Satisfaction Scale was used. In the analysis of the data obtained, descriptive statistics, T-test for Independent Samples, One-Factor Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson Correlation Test, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modeling were performed by means of SPSS 25 and Jamovi programs. When the findings were examined, significant differences were found in some sub-dimensions of Digital Leisure Participation Purposes Scale, Digital Leisure Flow Experience Scale, and Leisure Satisfaction Scale in terms of gender and regular leisure time variables of university students who participated in digital leisure activities (p<.0.05). On the other hand, no significant difference was found in the Digital Leisure Participation Purposes Scale and Leisure Satisfaction Scale sub-dimensions in terms of digital leisure daily participation time and digital leisure weekly participation frequency (p>.0.05). In terms of digital leisure weekly participation frequency, a significant difference was found in the Digital Leisure Flow Experience Scale "activity" sub-dimension (p<.05). In terms of the device and digital platform variables used in digital leisure participation of the participants, significant differences were found in the sub-dimensions of Digital Leisure Participation Purposes Scale, Digital Leisure Flow Experience Scale, and Leisure Satisfaction Scale (p<.05). On the other hand, a moderate positive correlation was found in the sub-dimensions of Digital Leisure Participation Purposes Scale, Digital Leisure Flow Experience Scale, and Leisure Satisfaction Scale (p<.05). In the study, firstly, Confirmatory Factor Analysis followed by Structural Equation Modeling was carried out in line with the model created to measure the level of influence between digital leisure participation purposes, digital leisure flow experience, and leisure satisfaction. When the results were examined, it was determined that digital leisure participation purposes had a positive effect on digital leisure flow experience and leisure satisfaction. In addition to this, it was determined that digital leisure flow experience had a positive effect on leisure satisfaction. In the second model created, it was determined that digital leisure flow experience had a mediating role in the effect of digital leisure participation purposes on leisure satisfaction. As a result, with this study, it can be said that digital leisure participation purposes positively affect digital leisure experience and leisure satisfaction. However, it is possible to say that the digital leisure flow experience also has a positive effect on leisure satisfaction. In addition, it is seen that there is a relationship between digital leisure participation purposes, digital leisure experience and leisure satisfaction. Keywords: Leisure, digital leisure, flow experience, leisure satisfaction.