Balancing Work and Leisure; Recreational Participation as a Predictor of Job Efficiency in the Public Sector

Abstract

Aim: The occupational performance of public sector employees holds critical importance not only in terms of institutional efficiency but also regarding the quality of services delivered to the public. Within this framework, understanding the relationship between individual job performance and engagement in leisure-time activities has emerged as a fundamental area of scholarly inquiry, with implications for both employee well-being and organizational success. The present study aims to examine the impact of recreational activity participation levels on the job performance of employees working in sports-related public institutions and to determine whether these variables differ significantly across various demographic factors. Methods: This research employed correlational survey design. The sample consisted of 400 civil servants employed in various public institutions across Türkiye. Data was collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Tests for normality related to the MANOVA assumptions indicated that the data were not normally distributed; therefore, non-parametric analyses such as the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were utilized, along with correlation and multiple regression analyses. Results: The findings revealed statistically significant positive correlations between job performance and the motives for participating in recreational activities. Additionally, significant differences were observed across certain subdimensions based on demographic variables such as gender, educational attainment, and years of service. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results suggest that participation in recreational activities serves as a reinforcing factor in enhancing the occupational performance of public employees.

Keywords

• Job Performance
• Public Employees
• Recreational Activity.

İş ve Serbest Zaman Dengesi; Kamu Sektöründe İş Verimliliğinin Bir Yordayıcısı Olarak Rekreasyonel Katılım

Abstract

Amaç: Kamu kurumlarında görev yapan çalışanların iş performansı, yalnızca kurumsal verimlilik açısından değil, aynı zamanda halka sunulan hizmetlerin kalitesi açısından da öneme sahiptir. Bu doğrultuda, bireysel iş performansı ile serbest zaman etkinlikleri arasındaki ilişkinin anlaşılması hem çalışan refahı hem de kurumsal başarı için temel bir araştırma alanı hâline gelmiştir. Bu araştırmanın amacı, sporla ilgili kamu kurumlarında çalışanlarının rekreasyonel aktivitelere katılım düzeylerinin iş performansları üzerindeki etkisini incelemek ve bu değişkenlerin demografik faktörlere göre anlamlı farklılık gösterip göstermediğini ortaya koymaktır. Yöntem: Araştırmada ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın örneklemini Türkiye'deki çeşitli kamu kurumlarında görev yapan 400 memur oluşturmaktadır. Veriler çevrim içi anket yoluyla toplanmış, analizler SPSS 25.0 programı aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Verilerin MANOVA testine ilişkin normallikleri test edilmiş ve normal dağılmadığı belirlenmiş; bu nedenle Mann-Whitney U ve Kruskal-Wallis H testleri ile korelasyon ve çoklu regresyon analizleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Elde edilen bulgulara göre, iş performansı ile rekreasyonel aktivite katılım nedenleri arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı ilişkiler bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, cinsiyet, eğitim durumu ve hizmet yılı gibi demografik değişkenlere göre bazı alt boyutlarda anlamlı farklılıklar tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, memurlarının iş performanslarının güçlendirilmesinde rekreasyonel aktivitelerin destekleyici bir unsur olduğu görülmüştür.

Keywords

• İş Performansı
• Rekreasyonel Aktivite
• Kamu çalışanları.

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