The Effects of Participation Satisfaction on Sports Value Recognition and Subjective Happiness among University Students in Summer Sports Liberal Arts Courses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of participation satisfaction on sports value recognition and subjective happiness among university students enrolled in summer sports liberal arts courses. A total of 344 students who participated in summer sports classes at universities located in the Seoul metropolitan area were surveyed, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS 28.0 through frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The findings are as follows: First, physical satisfaction and educational satisfaction had significant effects on all sub-factors of sports value recognition, while emotional satisfaction only had a significant effect on social value. Social satisfaction and environmental satisfaction did not show significant effects. Second, in terms of the influence of participation satisfaction on subjective happiness, emotional satisfaction and physical satisfaction were significant predictors, whereas social satisfaction, environmental satisfaction, and educational satisfaction were not. Third, regarding the influence of sports value recognition on subjective happiness, physical value and educational value had significant effects, while social value did not. These results suggest that summer sports liberal arts courses contribute not only to physical activity but also to students’ holistic development and the enhancement of their happiness. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the need to strengthen opportunities for physical achievement and educational experience in the operation of liberal arts physical education curricula.