An Examination of the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Mental Well-Being in Adolescents

Öz

Adolescence is a crucial developmental period marked by intense biological, psychological, and social changes that influence an individual’s lifelong health. During this period, mental well-being is viewed as a multidimensional construct that encompasses not only the absence of negative mental and emotional states but also positive psychological characteristics such as life satisfaction, self-esteem, positive emotions, finding meaning in life, and satisfaction derived from social relationships. In this context, it is believed that physical activity behaviors—carried out in various forms such as exercise, sports, and active play—can contribute to both the maintenance of adolescents’ physical health and the support of their mental well-being. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between physical activity and mental well-being in adolescents. The study population consists of students attending high schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Sakarya Province. Designed within the framework of a correlational survey model, the study included a total of 352 students selected using convenience sampling. The “International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ),” the “Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS),” and a “Personal Information Form” were used during the data collection process. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 26, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The analysis results indicated a low-level, positive, and statistically significant relationship (p < .05) between students’ physical activity levels and their mental well-being. Furthermore, it was determined that physical activity level is a significant predictor of mental well-being. The findings suggest that as physical activity levels increase, adolescents’ levels of mental well-being also tend to increase.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Physical activity
• Mental well-being
• Sports
• Health
• Psychology

Ergenlerde Fiziksel Aktivite ile Mental İyi Oluş Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Öz

Ergenlik dönemi, bireyin yaşam boyu sağlığını etkileyen biyolojik, psikolojik ve sosyal değişimlerin yoğun olarak yaşandığı önemli bir gelişim sürecidir. Bu dönemde mental iyi oluş; bireyin yalnızca olumsuz zihinsel ve duygusal durumlardan uzak olmasını değil, aynı zamanda yaşam doyumu, özsaygı, olumlu duygulanım, yaşamda anlam bulma ve sosyal ilişkilerden elde edilen doyum gibi olumlu psikolojik özellikleri de kapsayan çok boyutlu bir yapı olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Bu bağlamda egzersiz, spor ve aktif oyun gibi farklı biçimlerde gerçekleştirilen fiziksel aktivite davranışlarının ergenlerin hem fiziksel sağlıklarının korunmasına hem de mental iyi oluşlarının desteklenmesine katkı sağlayabileceği düşünülmektedir. Bu araştırmanın amacı, ergenlerde fiziksel aktivite ile mental iyi oluş arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesidir. Araştırmanın evrenini, Sakarya ilinde Millî Eğitim Bakanlığına bağlı liselerde öğrenim gören öğrenciler oluşturmaktadır. İlişkisel tarama modeli çerçevesinde tasarlanan araştırmaya, kolayda örnekleme yöntemiyle belirlenen toplam 352 öğrenci katılmıştır. Veri toplama sürecinde "Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi (IPAQ)", "Warwick-Edinburgh Mental İyi Oluş Ölçeği (WEMWBS)" ve "Kişisel Bilgi Formu" kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler SPSS 26 programında tanımlayıcı istatistikler, Pearson korelasyon analizi ve regresyon analizi kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Analiz sonuçları, öğrencilerin fiziksel aktivite düzeyleri ile mental iyi oluşları arasında pozitif yönde düşük düzeyde anlamlı bir ilişki bulunduğunu (p < .05) göstermiştir. Ayrıca fiziksel aktivite düzeyinin mental iyi oluşun anlamlı bir yordayıcısı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, fiziksel aktivite düzeyi arttıkça ergenlerin mental iyi oluş düzeylerinin de artma eğiliminde olduğunu göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Fiziksel aktivite
• Mental iyi oluş
• Spor
• Sağlık
• Psikoloji

Kaynakça

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