Examining the relationship between secondary school students' attitudes toward sports and their levels of internet addiction in terms of various variables: The case of Ağrı province

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between secondary school students' attitudes toward sports and their levels of internet addiction in the context of Ağrı province, considering various variables. The variables examined in the study include gender, grade level, school type, participation in sports, mother's education level, father's education level, place of residence, type of devices used to access the internet, purposes of internet use, possession of a sports license, self-perception regarding internet addiction, body weight, monthly internet usage, sports participation status, and weighted grade point average. The study was conducted using a quantitative research design and a correlational survey model. Data were collected from 2,121 secondary school students selected through stratified sampling and analyzed using quantitative analysis methods. According to the results, male students demonstrated significantly higher attitudes toward sports compared to female students, while no gender-based differences were found regarding internet addiction. As grade level increased, students' levels of internet addiction also increased; however, no significant difference was observed in their attitudes toward sports. In terms of school type, students attending Sports High Schools had more positive attitudes toward sports, while students from Vocational and Anatolian High Schools exhibited higher levels of internet addiction. Mother's education level was not found to be related to either variable. However, students whose fathers had at least a secondary education showed more positive attitudes toward sports and lower internet addiction levels. Students living in urban areas had higher attitudes toward sports and also higher internet addiction levels than those living in villages. The type of internet access device and the purpose of internet use were particularly influential on internet addiction. Students with a sports license and those who actively engaged in sports had more positive attitudes toward sports, whereas those not participating in sports had higher levels of internet addiction. Higher monthly internet usage was associated with greater internet addiction. Although students with higher grade point averages tended to participate in sports less frequently, no significant relationship was found between academic success and internet addiction. These findings indicate that there are multidimensional relationships between adolescents' digital technology use and their attitudes toward physical activity. Educational policies should take this complexity into account. 2025, 97 Pages Anahtar sözcükler: Physical Education and Sports, Attitude Towards Sports, Internet Addiction