Career Planning Behaviors of Sports Sciences Students: Exploring the Role of Economic Factors in Career Dedication

This study explores the career planning behaviors of Sports Sciences students, focusing on their career dedication levels within the context of economic conditions and demographic variables. The sample consisted of 174 students from Erzurum Technical University. A relational survey model, which is designed to examine the presence and direction of relationships between variables without manipulation, was employed to identify possible associations between demographic factors and career dedication. Data were collected using a personal information form and the 9-item Career Dedication Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Anova were conducted. Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test was applied to determine which specific groups differed from each other. Results showed that female students had significantly higher career dedication than males, while no significant differences were found based on department, age, or academic year. Although overall dedication was high, the lowest score was for participation in additional training activities, indicating financial barriers. Economic constraints may limit students’ ability to engage in essential career development efforts, especially in fields like sports sciences where job opportunities are limited. These findings highlight the role of financial support in sustaining career commitment. Institutions should offer accessible career services, affordable training programs, and targeted support for economically disadvantaged students. Addressing economic disparities is essential to ensure all students can realize their career goals, regardless of financial background.