Wherever the Road Takes Me: Motivation and Wellbeing of Cyclists

Elvan Deniz Yumuk; Hamdi Alper Güngörmüş; Onur Ceyhan; Sevim Gerçek

doi:10.53434/gbesbd.1810087

Wherever the Road Takes Me: Motivation and Wellbeing of Cyclists

Abstract

This study aims to determine the mediating role of leisure motivation in the relationship between serious leisure activities and psychological wellbeing among cyclists. The research employs a descriptive design based on a relational survey model. The sample consisted of 286 cyclists (208 male, 78 female) selected through snowball sampling. The mean age of participants was 27.51±12.41 years. Data collection instruments included the Serious Leisure Inventory and Measure-Short Form (α=0.93), Leisure Motivation Scale (α=0.78), and Psychological Wellbeing Scale (α=0.88). Mediation analysis was conducted using Hayes’ (2018) PROCESS macro Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap resampling procedures. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive moderate significant relationships among all variables (p<0.001). Results demonstrated that serious leisure had positive effects on leisure motivation (β=0.518, p<0.001) and psychological wellbeing (β=0.398, p<0.001). Leisure motivation also positively influenced psychological wellbeing (β=0.612, p<0.001). Mediation analysis indicated that leisure motivation played a partial mediating role in the relationship between serious leisure and psychological wellbeing (indirect effect β=0.317, 95% CI: 0.207-0.445). The findings suggest that serious leisure participation among cyclists positively affects their psychological wellbeing both directly and indirectly through leisure motivation. This research contributes to understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying leisure experiences in cycling contexts and provides evidence for the Self-Determination Theory framework in serious leisure activities.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

We received no support from any institution.

Ethical Statement

This study was ethically approved by the decision of the Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University Social and Humanities Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee dated 12/03/2025 and numbered 2025/19. The participants in the current research volunteered to take part in the study and were provided with informed consent. Also, the study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Thanks

We would like to thank the participants for their invaluable contribution by taking part in our research.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sports and Recreation

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Elvan Deniz Yumuk ^*
0000-0002-8531-9509
Türkiye

Hamdi Alper Güngörmüş
0000-0003-4663-3869
Türkiye

Onur Ceyhan
0009-0006-7397-8941
Türkiye

Sevim Gerçek
0009-0005-2036-9491
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

October 24, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 25, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 30 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.53434/gbesbd.1810087

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA23NG57CB

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Yumuk, E. D., Güngörmüş, H. A., Ceyhan, O., & Gerçek, S. (2025). Wherever the Road Takes Me: Motivation and Wellbeing of Cyclists. Gazi Journal of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, 30(4), 124-133. https://doi.org/10.53434/gbesbd.1810087