An examination of the rumination levels of students studying at the Faculty of Sport Sciences (the case of Yalova University)

The aim of this study is to examine the levels of ruminative thinking among university students receiving sports education in relation to demographic and athletic variables such as gender, age, class level, years of sports experience, type of sport, department of study, and income status. The study group consists of students studying at the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Yalova University who actively participate in sports. The Ruminative Thinking Style Scale was used as the data collection tool, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. For variables that did not meet the normal distribution assumptions, non-parametric tests such as the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were applied. According to the findings, students' overall rumination levels were close to moderate. Female students had higher levels of ruminative thinking compared to males. Students engaged in individual sports scored higher than those involved in team sports. Additionally, those with shorter sports experience had higher rumination levels. On the other hand, no significant differences were found based on age, department, income status, or years of sports participation. Regarding class level, first-year students demonstrated higher rumination levels than fourth-year students. In conclusion, rumination appears to be shaped not only by individual tendencies but also by environmental factors such as type of sport, duration of experience, and academic adjustment. Accordingly, it is recommended to implement psychoeducational programs aimed at enhancing cognitive flexibility and coping skills, particularly for female athletes, those in individual sports, and students with limited sports experience.