Do reasons for participation in recreational activities shape social health? A study on youth

In the modern world, participation in recreational activities is recognized as a determinant of individuals' psychosocial development and overall well-being. Particularly during young adulthood, the impact of recreational processes on social health outcomes is of critical importance for understanding social adaptation processes. This study examines the predictive effect of reasons for participation in recreational activities on the social health levels of young individuals residing in the province of Bingöl. The study employed the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, with data obtained from 423 participants reached through the convenience sampling method. Sample adequacy was tested using the G*Power software, which confirmed that the reached sample size was sufficient for statistical power. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation, and Multiple Linear Regression analyses. Statistical significance levels were set at p<0.05 and p<0.01. According to the analysis results, significant positive correlations were identified between social health and all sub-dimensions of recreational reasons. The regression model was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05), explaining 28.1% of the total variance in social health. While the strongest predictor of social health was the "Social Component" (β=.283), this was followed by the "Competence-Mastery" and "Stimulus-Avoidance" dimensions. In contrast, the "Intellectual Motivation" dimension was found to have no significant predictive effect on social health (p>0.05). It was determined that social interaction, competence acquisition, and avoidance-oriented recreational tendencies are significant predictors of social health levels among youth; however, intellectual motivations do not provide a unique contribution to this process. This indicates that the social health levels of young people are shaped through dynamics focused on extroverted interaction and tangible skill acquisition rather than intrinsic-cognitive gains in recreational preferences.