This study aims to determine the ecological footprint awareness of sports center members in relation to various socio-demographic variables. Designed according to a cross-sectional survey model, the research population consists of members of five sports centers affiliated with Keçiören Municipality, while the sample comprises members using these facilities for recreational purposes and were selected through a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic information form prepared by the researcher and the “Ecological Footprint Awareness Scale” (EFAS; Turkish: Ekolojik Ayak İzi Farkındalık Ölçeği, EAİFÖ), developed by Çelik Coşkun (2013), comprising five dimensions and 46 items. In data analysis, the independent samples t-test was used for comparisons between two variables, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for comparisons among three or more independent variables, and the Pearson product-moment correlation analysis for examining relationships. The results indicated a positive and significant relationship (p<0.001) between age and ecological footprint awareness sub-dimensions, and that women exhibited higher awareness than men (p<0.05). Participants’ overall awareness levels were above average (X̄=3.76). Among sub-dimensions, the highest awareness levels were found in water consumption (X̄=4.11) and energy (X̄=4.07), while the lowest were in food (X̄=3.23) and transportation and housing (X̄=3.32). According to education level, significant differences were observed in the waste and water consumption sub-dimensions in favor of primary school graduates, and according to perceived income level, in the transportation and housing sub-dimension in favor of the low-income group. No significant differences were found for marital status, place of residence, or sports center membership duration.
This research was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Gazi University at its meeting dated October 07, 2025, with decision number 15.
The preparation and writing of this study were completed without financial support from any institution or organization.
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Sports and Recreation |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Submission Date | October 31, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | December 10, 2025 |
| Publication Date | March 30, 2026 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.53434/gbesbd.1814070 |
| IZ | https://izlik.org/JA96NT64RP |
| Published in Issue | Year 2026 Volume: 31 Issue: 1 |
Gazi Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences is a scientific and peer-reviewed journal published quarterly.