The relationship between free time management and enjoyment of physical activities: A study on Public Education Center members

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between leisure time management and enjoyment of physical activities in terms of various demographic characteristics of public education center members. The study group consisted of 523 students aged 16 and above who were members of the Public Education Center in Bartın province during the 2024–2025 academic year, selected through a convenience sampling method. The research employed a relational survey model, one of the general screening models. As data collection tools, a personal information form, the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PAES), and the Free Time Management Scale (LTMS) were used. In data analysis, descriptive statistics were first calculated, followed by independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analyses. According to the findings, the PAES scores showed a significant difference in terms of gender, whereas no significant difference was found for the LTMS. The class variable caused significant differences in some sub-dimensions of the LTMS and age groups but did not have an effect on the PAES. The perceived income variable did not show any significant difference in either scale or their sub-dimensions. The variable of daily leisure time duration revealed significant differences among the LTMS and its sub-dimensions, while it had no effect on the mean PAES scores. Variables such as frequency of participation in recreational activities and difficulty in planning leisure time created significant differences in the LTMS sub-dimensions but were not effective on the PAES. Regular participation in physical activities resulted in a significant difference in the PAES, but not in the LTMS and its sub-dimensions. Regarding participation in regular physical activities outside the courses offered by the public education center, significant differences were found between the sub-dimensions and groups of the LTMS, whereas no significant difference was found for the PAES. According to the Pearson correlation results between the income variable and the PAES, LTMS, and their sub-dimensions, no significant relationship was found between age and the sub-dimensions of either scale. Pearson correlation analysis results between the PAES and LTMS indicated a moderate significant relationship in some sub-dimensions and a low but positive significant relationship in others. The Pearson correlation analysis conducted to determine the relationship between the PAES and LTMS revealed a positive and significant relationship between leisure time management and enjoyment of physical activities. This finding suggests that individuals who manage their leisure time more effectively and efficiently tend to experience higher levels of enjoyment from physical activities. Overall, the results indicate that leisure time management supports individuals' attitudes and motivation toward physical activities, while regular participation in such activities positively affects the level of enjoyment. In this context, it is recommended that public education centers implement programs aimed at increasing individuals' awareness of leisure time and improving their time management skills, as such practices may enhance both participation in physical activities and the satisfaction derived from them.