@article{article_1698950, title={Outdoor Adventure Recreation: The Mediating Role of Flow Experience in the Relationship Between Adventure Behavior Seeking and Leisure Satisfaction}, journal={Sportive}, volume={8}, pages={168–193}, year={2025}, DOI={10.53025/sportive.1698950}, author={Ekinci, Erdoğan and Gürbüz, Bülent}, keywords={Açık alan rekreasyonu, Macera arayışı, Akış deneyimi, Sserbest zaman tatmini}, abstract={This study examines the complex relationships among adventure behavior seeking, recreational flow experience, and leisure satisfaction within the context of outdoor adventure recreation. Although outdoor recreation is widely recognized for promoting physical, psychological, and social well-being, limited research has focused on the psychological mechanisms that transform high-risk and challenging experiences into satisfying leisure outcomes. This study aims to fill that gap by investigating the mediating role of a psychological state known as flow experience in the relationship between individuals’ adventure-seeking tendencies and their leisure satisfaction. Data were collected from 1,406 participants who engaged in various outdoor recreational activities such as mountaineering, diving, paragliding, skiing, rafting, hiking, and camping across 142 centers located in 50 different provinces in Turkey. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test four hypotheses derived from literature on sensation seeking, flow theory, and leisure studies. The findings revealed that adventure behavior seeking positively and significantly influences both recreational flow experience and leisure satisfaction. Furthermore, flow experience was found to directly enhance leisure satisfaction. The most notable finding was that flow experience fully mediated the relationship between adventure behavior seeking and leisure satisfaction. This indicates that flow plays a central role in transforming adventure-oriented behaviors into positive and rewarding leisure experiences. Characterized by high levels of attention, intrinsic motivation, a sense of control, and the merging of action and awareness, flow experience represents the psychological pathway through which individuals participating in outdoor activities derive satisfaction from risky and physically demanding tasks. These findings are consistent with the theoretical model proposed by Csikszentmihalyi and others, which positions flow as not only a core component of optimal experience but also a key determinant of well-being and motivation in the context of leisure. This study makes three primary contributions to the literature. First, it extends flow theory within the framework of outdoor adventure recreation. Second, it provides a validated structural model that can serve as a foundation for future research. Third, it offers practical recommendations for recreation professionals, policymakers, and program developers by identifying flow as a target state in the design of recreational experiences. Based on the results, it is recommended to expand adventure-based programs that promote flow, increase access to outdoor recreation for marginalized or low-income groups, and integrate flow-oriented activities into educational and urban recreation planning. In an era marked by increasing urbanization, stress, and disconnection from nature, understanding how adventure and psychological immersion jointly enhance leisure satisfaction is essential for building healthier and more nature-connected communities.}, number={2}, publisher={Ahmet UZUN}