AN EXAMINATION OF SELF-EFFICACY, HAPPINESS, AND STRESS LEVELS OF INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN PICKLEBALL ACTIVITIES RECREATIONALLY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION

Öz

Recreational sports like Pickleball are increasingly recognized for their role in enhancing psychological well-being. However, research examining their psychosocial impact in regional contexts such as Southeastern Türkiye remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the self-efficacy, happiness, and stress levels of individuals participating in recreational Pickleball activities and to explore their associations with sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 494 individuals (248 females, 246 males) from five provinces participated in this quantitative study. Data were collected using the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire–Short Form, Perceived Stress Scale, and a demographic information form. Analyses were conducted with SPSS 23 using parametric (t-test, ANOVA) and non-parametric (Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H) tests based on data distribution (p < .05). Results showed that self-efficacy levels significantly differed by age, residence, occupation, Pickleball involvement, and exercise history. Happiness levels were associated with gender, age, province, occupation, and activity duration, while stress levels varied based on province, occupation, and sport frequency. These findings highlight the importance of sociodemographic factors—especially age, residence, and income status—in shaping psychological outcomes through recreational sports. The results may offer valuable insights for both academic research and the design of inclusive, well-being-focused sport programs in underserved regions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Pickleball
• Self-efficacy
• Happiness
• Stress

GÜNEYDOĞU ANADOLU BÖLGESİNDE REKREATİF OLARAK PİCKLEBALL ETKİNLİĞİNE KATILAN BİREYLERİN ÖZYETERLİLİK, MUTLULUK VE STRES DÜZEYLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Öz

Rekreatif sporların psikolojik iyilik hâli üzerindeki etkileri giderek daha fazla önem kazanmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, Pickleball gibi yeni nesil sporların psikososyal etkileri özellikle bölgesel bağlamlarda sınırlı olarak araştırılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’nin Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde rekreatif amaçlı Pickleball etkinliklerine katılan bireylerin öz-yeterlik, mutluluk ve stres düzeylerini incelemek ve bu değişkenlerin sosyodemografik özelliklerle ilişkisini değerlendirmektir. Nicel araştırma deseniyle yürütülen çalışmaya, beş farklı ilden toplam 494 birey (248 kadın, 246 erkek) katılmıştır. Veriler; Genel Öz Yeterlik Ölçeği, Oxford Mutluluk Ölçeği – Kısa Form, Algılanan Stres Ölçeği ve demografik bilgi formu ile toplanmıştır. SPSS 23 programı kullanılarak yapılan analizlerde, verilerin dağılımına bağlı olarak parametrik (t-testi, ANOVA) ve non-parametrik (Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H) testler uygulanmış, anlamlılık düzeyi p < .05 olarak belirlenmiştir. Bulgular; öz-yeterlik düzeylerinin yaş, ikamet edilen il, meslek, Pickleball oynama durumu, spor geçmişi ve egzersiz sıklığına göre anlamlı farklılık gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Mutluluk düzeylerinin cinsiyet, yaş, il, meslek ve fiziksel aktivite süresiyle ilişkili olduğu; stres düzeylerinin ise ikamet edilen il, meslek ve egzersiz sıklığına göre farklılaştığı belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, öz-yeterlik, mutluluk ve stres düzeylerinin belirli sosyodemografik değişkenlere göre anlamlı biçimde farklılık gösterdiği ve özellikle yaş, ikamet edilen il ve gelir düzeyi gibi faktörlerin etkili olduğu görülmektedir. Bu bulguların, rekreatif sporların bireysel iyi oluş üzerindeki rolünü anlamaya yönelik gelecekteki çalışmalara katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Pickleball
• Özyeterlilik
• Mutluluk
• Stres

Kaynakça

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