The Effect of Leisure Motivation on Activity Satisfaction and Recreational Flow Experience among Students of the Faculty of Sport Sciences

This study aims to examine the effect of leisure motivation on activity satisfaction and recreational flow experience among students of the Faculty of Sport Sciences. The study was designed using a relational survey model. The sample of the study consists of a total of 229 students studying at the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Balıkesir University during the fall semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, including 103 (45%) female and 126 (55%) male students. The data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Leisure Motivation Scale, the Activity Satisfaction Scale, and the Recreational Flow Experience Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics, Independent Samples t-Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson Correlation, and Regression analyses were used in the data analysis. The findings indicated that female students had higher levels of leisure motivation, activity satisfaction, and recreational flow experience compared to male students. Additionally, it was found that students who did not regularly participate in recreational activities scored higher on these variables, and as weekly leisure time increased, motivation, satisfaction, and flow experience also increased. A strong positive relationship was found between leisure motivation, activity satisfaction, and recreational flow experience. Furthermore, leisure motivation explained 50% of the variance in activity satisfaction and 49.4% of the variance in recreational flow experience. In conclusion, the findings reveal that the leisure motivation levels of students in the Faculty of Sport Sciences have a significant effect on both activity satisfaction and recreational flow experience.