The Relationship Between Leisure Attitude and Happiness: The Mediating Effect of Recreational Flow Experience

Abstract

With technological advancements reducing workload, individuals have increasingly sought to spend their leisure time more efficiently and meaningfully. This trend has fostered a growing positive attitude toward recreational activities. Individuals who approach recreational events with a positive mindset are more likely to experience a state of flow during these activities. The flow experience contributes to individuals' physical, mental, and social well-being by generating positive outcomes. In this context, the study examines the relationship between leisure attitude and happiness among participants in nature sports, with flow experience identified as a mediating variable in this relationship. The research was conducted using a correlational survey model, involving 246 voluntary participants aged 18–74 (Meanage = 31.15 ± 11.93) selected through purposive sampling method. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, applying Pearson correlation analysis to examine the relationships between variables, and regression analysis based on the Bootstrap method through the PROCESS macro. Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS Macro Model 4 was used to assess the mediating effect. The findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between leisure attitude and happiness, with flow experience serving as a mediator in this relationship. These results indicate that individuals' attitudes toward leisure activities significantly influence their happiness and that the flow experience enhances this effect.

Keywords

• LEISURE ATTITUDE
• RECREATIONAL FLOW EXPERIENCE
• HAPPINESS

Serbest Zaman Tutumu ile Mutluluk Arasındaki İlişki: Rekreasyonel Akış Deneyiminin Aracılık Etkisi

Öz

Teknolojik gelişmelerle iş yükünün azalması, bireylerin serbest zamanlarını daha verimli ve kaliteli değerlendirme isteğini artırmıştır. Bu durum, zamanla rekreasyonel aktivitelere karşı olumlu tutum geliştirmelerine olanak tanımaktadır. Rekreasyonel etkinliklere olumlu yaklaşan bireylerin, bu etkinlikler sırasında akış deneyimi yaşamaları daha olasıdır. Akış deneyimi, bireylerin fiziksel, zihinsel ve sosyal olarak olumlu kazanımlar elde etmelerini sağlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, araştırma doğa sporlarına katılım sağlayan bireylerin serbest zaman tutumu ile mutlulukları arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemekte ve akış deneyimini bu ilişkide aracılık eden bir değişken olarak ele almaktadır. Araştırma, ilişkisel tarama modeli çerçevesinde yürütülmüş ve 18-74 yaş aralığındaki (Ort.= 31.15 ± 11.93) 246 gönüllü katılımcıdan elde edilen verilerle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Verilerin analizinde SPSS yazılımı kullanılarak Pearson korelasyon analizi uygulanmış ve PROCESS makrosuyla Bootstrap yöntemi temelinde regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Aracılık etkisini değerlendirmek için Hayes’in (2013) geliştirdiği PROCESS Makro Model 4 kullanılmıştır. Sonuçlar, serbest zaman tutumu ile mutluluk arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki olduğunu ve rekreasyonel akış deneyiminin bu ilişkiye aracılık ettiğini ortaya koymuştur. Elde edilen bulgular, serbest zaman etkinliklerine yönelik tutumların bireylerin mutluluğu üzerinde önemli bir etkiye sahip olduğunu ve akış deneyiminin bu etkiyi güçlendirdiğini göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Serbest Zaman Tutumu
• Rekreasyonel Akış Deneyimi
• Mutluluk

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