Research Article

An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University

Volume: 9 Number: 2 April 25, 2026

An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the levels of sportsmanship and sport commitment among students enrolled in sports management programmes and to determine whether these variables differed according to demographic characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, professional status, and participation in a sports branch. Understanding these variables is important for evaluating the ethical values and long-term engagement tendencies of future sport managers. A relational survey model and causal-comparative design were employed. Data were collected through face-to-face administration of the Sportsmanship Scale and the Sports Commitment Scale. The sample consisted of sports management students studying at the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Istanbul Gelisim University. The normality of data distribution was tested using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, which indicated non-normal distribution (p<.05). Therefore, non-parametric tests were applied. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to examine group differences, and Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between the variables. The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in sportsmanship and sport commitment levels according to gender (p>.05). However, a statistically significant positive relationship was found between sportsmanship and sport commitment (r =.563, p<.05). In conclusion, higher sportsmanship levels are associated with stronger sport commitment among sports management students.

Keywords

Sportsmanship , Sports Commitment , University Students , Sports Management , Sport Behaviors , Ethical Value

References

  1. Aktaş, İ., & İlhan, E. L. (2023). The Role of sport in acceptance of disability and resilience. International Journal of Disabilities Sports and Health Sciences, 6(3), 373-385. [CrossRef]
  2. Sezen Balçıkanlı, G. (2010). The Turkish adaptation of multidimensional sportspersonship orientation scale-msos: a reliabilitiy and validity study. Gazi Journal of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, 15(1), 1-10.
  3. Balçıkanlı, G. S., & Yıldıran, İ. (2011). Sportspersonship orientation and empathic dispositions of professional soccer players. Spormetre Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 9(2), 49- 56. [CrossRef]
  4. Büyüköztürk Ş., Çakmak E., Akgün Ö., Karadeniz Ş., & Demirel F. (2008). Scientific research methods. 1st Edition. Pegem Academy.
  5. Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2007). Data analysis handbook for social sciences. 7th Edition, Ankara: Pegem Academy.
  6. Çalayır, Ö., Yıldız, N., Yaldız, Ö., & Çoknaz, H. (2017). An analysis of sportsmanship behaviors of competing hockey players in physical education courses in terms of some variables. Istanbul University Journal of Sports Sciences, 7(2), 27-37.
  7. Dereceli, Ç. (2019). An Examination of Multidimensional Sportspersonship Orientation Levels of Professional Athletes. European Journal of Education Studies, 6(1), 164-174.
  8. Guillén, F., & Martínez-Alvarado, J. R. (2014). The sport engagement scale: An adaptation of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) for the sports environment. Universitas Psychologica, 13(3), 975-984. [CrossRef]
  9. Gumus, H., Saracli, S., Yagmur, R., Isik, O., & Ersoz, Y. (2020). The investigation of sportsmanship behaviors of university students. Psicología del Deporte vol 29, nº 1, 2020: Revista de Psicología del Deporte, 291, 5.
  10. Kara, M., Genç, M., Talaghir, L. G., Bențea, C. C., Olaru, B. S., & Ivan, P. (2026). Cognitive Tendencies ınfluencing decision-making in young footballers and the role of psychological support. Behavioral Sciences, 16(2), 205. [CrossRef]
APA
Kaya, A., Tuna, G., Gaş, Y., & Kantar, A. N. (2026). An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University. International Journal of Disabilities Sports and Health Sciences, 9(2), 101-109. https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1867080
AMA
1.Kaya A, Tuna G, Gaş Y, Kantar AN. An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University. International Journal of Disabilities Sports &Health Sciences. 2026;9(2):101-109. doi:10.33438/ijdshs.1867080
Chicago
Kaya, Ali, Gökhan Tuna, Yetmir Gaş, and Ayşe Nilay Kantar. 2026. “An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University”. International Journal of Disabilities Sports and Health Sciences 9 (2): 101-9. https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1867080.
EndNote
Kaya A, Tuna G, Gaş Y, Kantar AN (April 1, 2026) An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University. International Journal of Disabilities Sports and Health Sciences 9 2 101–109.
IEEE
[1]A. Kaya, G. Tuna, Y. Gaş, and A. N. Kantar, “An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University”, International Journal of Disabilities Sports &Health Sciences, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 101–109, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.33438/ijdshs.1867080.
ISNAD
Kaya, Ali - Tuna, Gökhan - Gaş, Yetmir - Kantar, Ayşe Nilay. “An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University”. International Journal of Disabilities Sports and Health Sciences 9/2 (April 1, 2026): 101-109. https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1867080.
JAMA
1.Kaya A, Tuna G, Gaş Y, Kantar AN. An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University. International Journal of Disabilities Sports &Health Sciences. 2026;9:101–109.
MLA
Kaya, Ali, et al. “An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University”. International Journal of Disabilities Sports and Health Sciences, vol. 9, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 101-9, doi:10.33438/ijdshs.1867080.
Vancouver
1.Ali Kaya, Gökhan Tuna, Yetmir Gaş, Ayşe Nilay Kantar. An Examination of Sportsmanship and Sport Commitment Levels of University Students: A Case Study of Istanbul Gelisim University. International Journal of Disabilities Sports &Health Sciences. 2026 Apr. 1;9(2):101-9. doi:10.33438/ijdshs.1867080