An examination of the factors affecting sports participation motivation and leisure satisfaction levels of children participating in sports at the youth center

The aim of this study is to examine the sports participation motivation and leisure satisfaction levels of children participating in sports at the youth center in Bucak district of Burdur province. The research was conducted using the survey model, a quantitative research method. The population of the study consisted of children who regularly participated in sports activities at the Bucak Youth Center during the 2023-2024 academic year. The sample included 328 children (171 girls, 104 boys, aged 8-14) who were selected using a convenience sampling method and volunteered to participate in the study. As data collection tools, the "Sports Participation Motivation Inventory" and the "Leisure Satisfaction Scale" were used. The Sports Participation Motivation Inventory includes sub-dimensions of achievement/status, team membership/spirit, physical fitness, and friendship; while the Leisure Satisfaction Scale consists of psychological, educational, social, relaxation, physiological, and aesthetic sub-dimensions. Reliability analyses indicated that the Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the scales ranged between .59 and .85, showing sufficient internal consistency. In the analysis of the data, besides descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests such as Mann-Whitney U test for two-group comparisons and Kruskal-Wallis H test for comparisons involving three or more groups were used. The findings showed that the children's sports participation motivation and leisure satisfaction levels were generally high. Furthermore, significant differences in sports participation motivation were observed according to gender, age group, type of sport, and years of sports participation. In terms of leisure satisfaction, significant differences were found in certain sub-dimensions depending on years of sports participation and type of sport. In conclusion, it was determined that children participating in sports at Bucak Youth Center have high levels of both sports participation motivation and leisure satisfaction, and these variables differ according to various demographic factors.