Serbest Zaman Doyumu, İlgilenimi ve Algılanan Özgürlük İlişkisi: Fiziksel Aktivite Yoluyla Kadınların Güçlenmesi

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between women’s involvement in leisure time, leisure time satisfaction perceived freedon and to investigate the effects of these on women’s empowerment through a 12-week physical activity program. In this context, the theoretical framework of the study is conceptual relations of empowerment, feminist pedagogy and self-determination theory. In terms of suitability for the purpose of the study, mixed method research was used based on pragmatist and transformational research paradigms and explanatory sequential design was used as research design. In the quantitative part of the study, pretest-posttest semi-experimental method was used and a 12-week pilates exercise was developed. In the qualitative part, phenomenology method was used. In the study, Leisure Involvement Scale (LIS), Leisure Satisfaction Scale (LSS) and Perceived Freedom in Leisure Scale (PFLS) were used as data collection instruments, while observation, field notes and individual interview techniques were used in the quantitative part. The participant group consists of three different groups. Data were collected from women who participated in fitness/pilates exercises (N=209) to test scale construct validity and from women who participated in fitness/pilates exercises (N=399) to form Structural Equation Model. Finally, data were collected from 21 women who formed the experimental group and who participated in 12-week pilates exercise. Quantitative data were transferred to online medium and analysed by using SPSS 20.00 and AMOS 16.00 programs. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test the construct validity of Freedom Perceived in Leisure Time (FPLT) scale for female participants. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients were calculated to test the reliability level of the three scales used in the study. t-test for dependent variables was used to find out the effects of 12-week pilates exercise on women’s involvement, satisfaction and perceived freedom levels. Structural Equation Model (SEM) and correlation analysis methods were used to test the structural validity of the model within the scope of the research. Content analysis technique was used in the qualitative dimensions of the study. As a result of the study, the 10-item and single dimension structure of Perceived Freedom in Leisure Time for adult women was confirmed. Posttest scores of women who participated in 12-week pilates exercise program in all sub-dimensions of involvement, satisfaction and perceived freedom scales were found to be higher than pretest scores. It was concluded that leisure time involvement both had a direct effect on perceived freedom and an indirect effect on leisure time satisfaction as well as an indirect effect on leisure time satisfaction. When women’s empowerment experiences were examined, it was found that the exercise program implemented within the conceptual relations of empowerment had effects on psychological, physical, social and cultural empowerment and active life skills. Finally, it was concluded that increasing the interest of women in leisure time activities can contribute to their empowerment by increasing their perceived freedom or women who are satisfied as a result of increased involvement and their needs being met can feel themselves as free and empowered.