The relationship between recreational sport well-being and academic belonging among university students

The aim of this study is to examine university students' recreational sports well-being and academic belonging in relation to various demographic variables and to test the relationships among these variables. The population of the research group consists of 874 students enrolled in the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Bartın University during the 2023-2024 academic semester. A sample of 509 students was selected using the convenience sampling method. In the study, the relational survey model, one of the general survey models, was employed. In the study, the "Recreational Sports Well-Being Scale (RSWBS)" and the "Academic Belonging Scale (ABS)" were used as data collection instruments. In the analysis of the data, an independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analyses were utilized. The findings of the study indicate significant relationships in certain sub-dimensions of the RSWBS and ABS based on the correlation test results for the variables of age and weekly participation in recreational activities. According to the t-test results for the gender variable of the participants, a significant difference was found in the "Class Participation, Library and Resource Access" sub-dimension of the ABS, while no significant differences were detected in the other sub-dimensions of the ABS or in the RSWBS and its sub-dimensions. According to the ANOVA test results for the participants' department, leisure-time competence, and perceived family income variables, no significant differences were found among the sub-dimensions of the RSWBS and ABS. According to the correlation analysis conducted to determine the relationship between the RSWBS and ABS, all sub-dimensions were found to have low to moderate positive correlations with each other. In conclusion, it can be stated that participation in recreational sports activities enhances individuals' psychological, social, and physical well-being, thereby strengthening their sense of academic belonging. Engaging in structured recreational activities during their leisure time may contribute to university students establishing a stronger connection with the academic environment, identifying with institutional identity, and participating more actively in the educational process. Key Words: Academic belonging, recreational sport well-being, university students.