Examination of Leisure Crafting and Intrinsic Leisure Motivation of Sports Science Students

This study investigates the levels of leisure crafting and intrinsic leisure motivation among sports science students based on demographic variables and examines the relationship between these two concepts. The sample consists of 310 voluntary students (177 male, 133 female) from the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Afyon Kocatepe University. Data were collected using the Leisure Crafting Scale, the Intrinsic Leisure Motivation Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Independent Samples t-Test, One-Way ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation tests were employed in the analysis. Results showed that male students reported higher leisure crafting levels, while intrinsic leisure motivation did not differ significantly by gender. Although class level and department had no overall impact on leisure crafting, recreation students scored significantly higher than students from other departments. Significant differences were also observed in certain sub-dimensions regarding paternal education and income levels. Additionally, positive correlations were found between specific sub-dimensions of intrinsic leisure motivation and leisure crafting. Overall, the findings highlight a meaningful link between intrinsically motivated leisure and proactive engagement in leisure activities, suggesting that such involvement can support self-exploration and personal development during university years.