Examination Of Physical Activity Levels Of University Students According To Social Appearance Anxiety And Attitudes Towards Sports

The aim of this study is to examine the physical activity levels of university students according to their social appearance anxiety and attitudes towards sports. This study is a correlational research and participants were determined by convenience sampling method. The sample group of the study consists of a total of 421 students, 143 of whom are female and 278 of whom are male. The research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval for the research was received from Mersin University social sciences ethics committee. Research data; It was obtained with a survey form consisting of personal information form, physical activity evaluation, social appearance anxiety and attitude towards sports scales. In the study, chi-square and anova analyzes were used to determine the differences between variables, and Pearson correlation and regression analysis were used to determine the relationships between variables. As a result, physical activity levels of female university students are lower than men; there is a positive relationship between physical activity level and social appearance anxiety and attitude towards sports; it was determined that as the physical activity level increased, social appearance anxiety and attitude towards sports increased. University students' social appearance anxiety and their attitudes towards sports explain 52% of their physical activity levels. It was determined that the variable that most predicts physical activity level is attitude towards sports. It is thought that the results of this study, which is limited to university students, will constitute a reference to the field of sports sciences as an original research. Taking these results as a reference, cultural, social and physical recreational activities that can positively improve students' attitudes towards sports can be organized. The effects of these activities on their attitudes towards sports, social appearance concerns and physical activity levels can be examined.