ABSTRACT

Background: The global pandemic has proven once again how important an active lifestyle is for human beings. There was intense participation in parks and recreation areas, with the stretching of partial or full closures around the world. We can say that this participation is a harbinger of the more intensive use of parks and recreation areas after the global epidemic.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate what individuals pay attention to when choosing the recreational areas they able to go to and the relationship between these factors and their field preferences.

Methods: Four hundred thirteen individuals participated in the study voluntarily. Three hundred ninety [18-63 years old (=36,32±12.34); 56.9% (224) female, 43.1% (166) male] of the data obtained from the study group were included in the study. The demographic information form, which was developed by the researcher and questioned some demographic information of the participants, Recreation area preference factors scale developed by Gümüş and Özgül (2017) were used as the data collection tool in the study. Recreation area preference factors scale consisted of a total of 24 items and had 5 sub-dimensions. In the analysis of the data, the distribution normality was tested and a normal distribution was observed. Independent samples t test and One-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.

Results: While the analysis results showed that there was a significant difference between the body mass indexes of the research group and the recreation area preference factors scale in terms of sportive diversity, personnel, physical facilities and activity sub-dimensions, no difference was detected in the location sub-dimension. Obese individuals attached more importance to the sports diversity, physical facilities and personnel working in the recreation areas compared to other groups. Individuals with normal body mass index attached more importance to social and artistic activities in recreation areas than other groups. In addition, it was determined that female participants attach more importance to all sub-dimensions than male.

Conclusion: it was determined that the body mass indexes of the individuals were effective in the recreation area preferences. This result is important in terms of knowing the expectations of the target audience in the modernization of parks and recreation areas or the construction of new ones.

Keywords: Body Mass Index, Recreation, Physical activity