Sağlık Alanında Öğrenim Gören Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Spora İlişkin Metaforik Algıları

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the meanings attributed to the concepts of sport and recreation by university students in health-related fields through metaphors. The research was conducted using the phenomenological approach, one of the qualitative research methods. A total of 431 female and 125 male students with a mean age of 20.48±3.61, enrolled at Süleyman Demirel University Vocational School of Health Services, participated in the study. Data were collected through open-ended questions in which students expressed the concepts of sport and recreation through analogies, and MaxQDA software along with Chi-Square analysis were used in the analysis process. According to the findings, 28.8% of the students exercise regularly, while 71.2% do not. When the concept of sport was examined, it was found that students most frequently used the expressions of health, life, and living. Regarding the concept of recreation, meanings such as leisure time, feeling good, and making productive use of time were found to be prominent. Although students who exercise regularly were found to use concepts expressing psychological well-being such as peace, happiness, and reading more frequently, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups. Overall, the findings indicate that students do not perceive sport and recreation merely as physical activities, but also consider them as important life domains that support well-being, relaxation, and social life. These results demonstrate that sport and recreation contribute to individuals' overall quality of life.