THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPORTS AND HEALTHY LIVING AWARENESS: A STUDY ON ICE HOCKEY ATHLETES

Present research sets out to evaluate the levels of awareness regarding healthy living and sports among ice hockey athletes, as well as to identify the relationship between these two concepts. The research sample consisted of 101 athletes (54 male and 47 female) who actively participated in leagues organized by the Turkish Ice Hockey Federation during the 2023–2024 season. Data collection instruments were a Personal Information Form, the Sports Awareness Scale, and the Healthy Living Awareness Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 software. Upon examining the research findings, no statistically significant differences were observed in sports and healthy living awareness levels based on gender or age variables. However, a significant difference was identified in the “nutrition” sub-dimension of the healthy living awareness scale in favor of the 21–26 age group. Moreover, the results indicated that higher levels of education and greater sports experience were associated with increased awareness. Specifically, individuals with undergraduate or postgraduate degrees exhibited higher levels of sports and healthy living awareness compared to high school graduates. Similarly, those with 13 or more years of sports experience demonstrated greater awareness than those with less experience. In addition, a positive and significant association was discovered between sports awareness and healthy living awareness, suggesting that these two variables are mutually reinforcing. In conclusion, sports play a vital role in fostering healthy living consciousness, extending beyond being merely a physical activity. The findings of the study indicate that sports can serve as an effective tool in promoting awareness-based health behaviors, emphasizing the importance of strategies that enhance awareness both at individual and societal levels.