University Students' Perceptions of Freedom in Leisure

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine university students' freedom to engage in leisure activities, and to compare these according to the factors of elective courses taken and course hours, leisure activities frequently participated in, lengths of participation and gender. A total of 410 students, 212 of whom were taking common compulsory courses in their own education programmes, and 198 of whom were taking non-technical elective courses, took part in the study. Quantitative research techniques were used in the study, which was structured on the descriptive model. The Perceived Freedom in Leisure Scale developed by Witt and Ellis (1985) and adapted into Turkish by Yerlisu Lapa and Ağyar (2011), and the Personal Information Form developed by the researchers, were used as data collection tools in the study. The data were evaluated by using the t-test, one-way ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U statistical test methods. According to the research findings, it was determined that students who chose sports courses from among the elective courses and who spent more time participating in their selected courses and in leisure activities had higher perceived freedom in leisure. Whereas no significant difference was observed with regard to the type of leisure activity that the students engaged in, male students' perceptions of freedom were found to be higher than those of female students.