Determınıng unıversıty students' attıtudes towards physıcal actıvıty and theır health belıefs regardıng sportıng recreatıonal actıvıtıes

This study aimed to determine university students' attitudes towards physical activity and their health beliefs regarding sports and recreational activities. The descriptive survey method, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. The population of the study consisted of undergraduate students studying at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, while the sample consisted of a total of 509 undergraduate students, 302 female and 207 male, studying in 10 different faculties who voluntarily participated in the study. The data collection tool used in the study was a 'Demographic Information Form' consisting of 12 questions prepared by the researcher. The 'Cognitive Behavioural Physical Activity Scale' was used to determine students' attitudes towards physical activity, and the 'Health Belief Scale Related to Sports and Recreational Activities' was used to determine students' health beliefs regarding sports and recreational activities. The SPSS software package was used for data analysis, and a significance level of (p<0.05) was accepted. In the analysis of data showing a normal distribution, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey test for within-group differences were used. According to the research findings, no significant differences were found in the sub-dimensions of both scales in the variables of father's educational status, family income status, place of residence, smoking and alcohol consumption (p>0.05). Significant differences were determined in some sub-dimensions of both scales according to the variables of age, gender, mother's educational status, faculty, type of activity participation, type of activity, frequency of activity participation, and reason for activity participation (p<0.05). In conclusion, differences were found in university students' attitudes towards physical activity and health beliefs regarding sports and recreational activities in terms of certain variables.