KAMPÜS REKREASYONUNUN SOSYOKÜLTÜREL UYUM SÜRECİNDEKİ ROLÜ

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 1, 71 - 83, 27.03.2025

Levent Önal , Yunus Sinan Biricik

https://doi.org/10.61962/bsd.1615014

Öz

Bu çalışma, kampüs rekreasyon hizmetlerinin aracılık rolüne odaklanarak sosyal bütünleşmenin üniversite öğrencilerinin sosyokültürel uyumuna etkisini incelemektedir. Uluslararası öğrencilerin yeni kültürel ortamlara uyum sağlama sürecinde karşılaştıkları zorluklar göz önünde bulundurularak, araştırma rekreasyon hizmetlerinin destekleyici bir mekanizma olarak önemini vurgulamaktadır. Veriler, Türkiye'deki büyük bir üniversitede öğrenim gören uluslararası öğrencilerden toplanmış ve rekreasyon hizmet kalitesi, sosyal bütünleşme ve sosyokültürel uyumu değerlendiren geçerli ölçekler kullanılarak elde edilmiştir. Verilerin analizinde Yapısal Eşitlik Modellemesi (SEM) yöntemi kullanılmış ve rekreasyon hizmetlerinin sosyokültürel uyuma hem doğrudan hem de sosyal bütünleşme aracılığıyla dolaylı etkilerinin olduğu ortaya konmuştur. Bulgular, yüksek kaliteli rekreasyon hizmetlerinin yalnızca öğrenciler arasındaki sosyal bağları güçlendirmekle kalmayıp, aynı zamanda kapsayıcı ve etkileşimli ortamlar yaratarak kültürel uyumu da desteklediğini göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar, kampüs rekreasyonunun yükseköğretimde stratejik bir araç olarak önemini vurgulamakta; aidiyet duygusunun gelişimine katkı sağlayarak kültürlerarası deneyimlerin zenginleşmesine olanak tanıdığını ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışma, üniversite yöneticileri, rekreasyon programı geliştiricileri ve politika yapıcılar için farklı öğrenci gruplarının kampüs deneyimlerini iyileştirmeye yönelik değerli çıkarımlar sunmaktadır. Rekreasyon hizmetlerinin sosyal bütünleşme ve kültürel uyumu teşvik etmedeki rolüne öncelik veren kurumlar, uluslararası öğrencilerinin iyi oluşunu ve akademik başarısını daha etkili bir şekilde destekleyebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kampüs Rekreasyonu, Sosyokültürel Uyum, Sosyal Entegrasyon, Uluslararası Öğrenciler

THE ROLE OF CAMPUS RECREATION IN FACILITATING SOCIOCULTURAL ADAPTATION

Öz

This study explores the impact of social integration on the sociocultural adaptation of university students, with a particular focus on the mediating role of campus recreation services. Recognizing the challenges faced by international students in adapting to new cultural environments, the research highlights the significance of recreation services as a supportive mechanism. Data were collected from international students at a large Turkish university, utilizing validated instruments to assess recreation service quality, social integration, and sociocultural adaptation. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data, revealing that recreation services exert both direct and indirect effects on sociocultural adaptation through social integration. The findings demonstrate that high-quality recreation services not only facilitate social bonding among students but also contribute to their cultural adjustment by creating inclusive and engaging environments. These results emphasize the importance of campus recreation as a strategic tool in higher education, fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing cross-cultural experiences. This study offers valuable insights for university administrators, recreation program developers, and policymakers seeking to improve the campus experience for diverse student populations. By prioritizing the role of recreation in promoting social integration and cultural adaptation, institutions can better support the well-being and success of their international students.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Campus Recreation, Sociocultural Adaptation, Social Integration, International Students

Etik Beyan

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Atatürk University, Sub-Ethics Committee, under document number E-70400699-000-2400310185. The research was conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines established by the committee.

Destekleyen Kurum

The authors declare no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Kaynakça

• Wit H. (2020). Internationalization of higher education. Journal of International Students.
• Er O., Bozkırlı KÇ. (2019). Türkçe öğretmeni adaylarının yabancı uyruklu öğrencilerin sorunlarına ilgilerinin çeşitli değişkenler açısından incelenmesi. Uluslararası Türkçe Edebiyat Kültür Eğitim (TEKE) Dergisi, 8(1), 538-548.
• Chi Y. (2023). Individual and social challenges of chinese international students in the united states. Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.
• Wu H., Garza E., Guzmán N. (2015). International student's challenge and adjustment to college. Education Research International, 2015, 1-9.
• GulRaihan M., Sandaran SC. (2017). Sociocultural adaptation challenges of international students at a higher learning institution in Malaysia. LSP International Journal, 4(2).
• Ozer S. (2015). Predictors of international students' psychological and sociocultural adjustment to the context of reception while studying at Aarhus University, Denmark. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 56 6, 717-25.
• Gebru M., Yuksel-Kaptanoglu I. (2020). Adaptation challenges for international students in Turkey. Open Journal of Social Sciences.
• Allen J., Drane D., Byon K., Mohn R. (2010). Sport as a vehicle for socialization and maintenance of cultural identity: International students attending American universities. Sport Management Review, 13, 421-434.
• Brunette M., Mady C., Scheffel T., Horning D., Cantalini-Williams M. (2019). You can't be outside without being part of the culture": recommendations for using outdoor recreation to support international student transitions. Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education.
• Lee S., Spencer T., Hums M., Alagaraja M. (2020). Qualitative examination of international graduate students’ experiences with campus recreation services. Recreational Sports Journal, 44, 51-59.
• Zerengök D., Güzel P., Özbey S. (2018). The impact of leisure participation on social adaptation of international students. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 6, 1-9.
• Wang Y., Li T., Noltemeyer A., Wang A., Zhang J., Shaw K. (2018). Cross-cultural adaptation of ınternational college students in the united states. Journal of International Students, 8, 821-842.
• Merola R., Coelen R., Hofman W. (2019). The role of integration in understanding differences in satisfaction among chinese, Indian, and South Korean international students. Journal of Studies in International Education, 23, 535-553.
• Stadtfeld C., Vörös A., Elmer T., Boda Z., Raabe I. (2018). Integration in emerging social networks explains academic failure and success. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116, 792-797.
• Tarazona M., Rosenbusch C. (2019). Refining measurements of social and academic integration: lessons from a German University of Applied Sciences. Tertiary Education and Management, 1-15.
• Mishra S. (2020). Social networks, social capital, social support and academic success in higher education: A systematic review with a special focus on ‘underrepresented’ students. Educational Research Review, 29, 100307.
• Herrmann S., Varnum M., Straka B., Gaither S. (2021). Social class identity integration and success for first-generation college students: antecedents, mechanisms, and generalizability. Self and Identity, 21, 553-587.
• Waya D., Perkins J., Butler-Barnes S., Walker T. (2017). Social belonging and college retention: results from a quasi-experimental pilot study. Journal of College Student Development, 58, 777-782.
• Severiens S., Schmidt H. (2009). Academic and social integration and study progress in problem based learning. Higher Education, 58, 59-69.
• Dalgarn M. (2001). The role of the campus recreation center in creating a community. Recreational Sports Journal, 25, 66-72.
• Williams N. (2022). Exploring outdoor recreation activities as a facilitator for college student diversity experiences. Recreational Sports Journal, 46, 42-51.
• Tsai E. (2005). A Cross-cultural study of the ınfluence of perceived positive outcomes on participation in regular active recreation: Hong Kong and Australian University students. Leisure Sciences, 27, 385-404.
• Hellerstein D., Leitner J., Sindiani M. (2021). Recreational activities as a tool for enhancing relations between Arab and Jewish students in an Israeli college. Sport in Society, 26, 27-44.
• Foley C., Darcy S., Hergesell A., Almond B., McDonald M., Nguyễn L., Morgan-Brett E. (2023). Extracurricular activities, graduate attributes and serious leisure: competitive sport versus social-cultural clubs in campus life. Leisure Studies, 42, 971-988.
• Glass C., Gómez E., Urzúa A. (2014). Recreation, intercultural friendship, and international students’ adaptation to college by region of origin. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 42, 104-117.
• Kozak M., Doğantan E. (2016). An assessment of students’ recreation participation. US-China education review, 6.
• Pandey A., Chopra A., Karve S. (2023). Mental wellbeing and recreational sports – two together for a healthy win - implications for higher education institutions. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management.
• Gula L. (2021). A Scoping review on the implementation of active recreational activities. INSPIREE: Indonesian Sport Innovation Review.
• Unguren E. (2020). Exploring the moderating effect of campus recreation participation on the relationship between education satisfaction and self-esteem. Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, 27, 8-14.
• Berry JW. (2017). Theories and models of acculturation. The Oxford handbook of acculturation and health, 10, 15-28.
• Tinto, V. (2017). Reflections on student persistence. Student Success, 8(2), 1-8.
• Astin AW. (2014). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. In College Student Development and Academic Life (pp. 251-262). Routledge.
• Bektaş DY. (2004). Psychological adaptation and acculturation of the Turkish students in the United States [Ph.D. - Doctoral Program]. Middle East Technical University.
• Davidson C., Wilson K. (2013). Reassessing Tinto's concepts of social and academic integration in student retention. Journal of College Student Retention, 15, 329-346.
• DeVries K. (2022). Diverse college students' cultural back ground and college persistence. Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention.
• French T. (2017). Toward a new conceptual model: integrating the social change model of leadership development and Tinto’s model of student persistence. The Journal of Leadership Education, 16.
• Miller KW. (2022). Promoting social involvement to increase the graduation rate of at-risk students (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University). Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/docview/2707574391?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses
• Simpson DB., Burnett D. (2019). Commuters versus residents: The effects of living arrangement and student engagement on academic performance. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 21(3), 286-304.
• Janse van Rensburg N. (2018). Social correlates of recreational sport participation among a cohort of South African university students (Doctoral dissertation, North-West University). Retrieved from
• Ko YJ., Pastore DL. (2005). A hierarchial model of service quality for the recreational sport ındustry. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 14(2).
• Holland A., Grühn D. (2018). The brief social integration scale (BSIS): The development of a new measure.
• Wilson J. (2013). Exploring the past, present and future of cultural competency research: The revision and expansion of the sociocultural adaptation construct. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Victoria University of Wellington.
• Stack J., Iwasaki Y. (2009). The role of leisure pursuits in adaptation processes among Afghan refugees who have immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada. Leisure Studies, 28, 239- 259.
• Özdemir A., Orhan B., Karaçam A., Malka A., Buhociu D., Iconomescu T. (2023). Tourist nomads, leisure constraints, and social cohesion: a study on international students living in Istanbul. Sustainability.
• Tossutti L. (2022). Municipal parks, recreation and cultural services in an age of migration and superdiversity. Urban Affairs Review, 59, 1214-1249.
• Eubank J., DeVita J. (2023). Building sense of belonging through ınformal recreation participation. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 39, 18-31.
• Hui B., Chen S., Leung C., Berry J. (2015). Facilitating adaptation and intercultural contact: The role of integration and multicultural ideology in dominant and non-dominant groups. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 45, 70-84.
• Stodolska M. (2015). Recreation for all: providing leisure and recreation services in multi-ethnic communities. World Leisure Journal, 57, 103-89.
• Andre, E., Williams, N., Schwartz, F., Bullard, C. (2017). Benefits of campus outdoor recreation programs: a review of the literature. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 9, 15-25.
• Fine M., Clark M., Scheuer C. (2016). Value-added university services: the importance of on-campus recreational facilities. Services Marketing Quarterly, 37, 24-35.
• Zegre S., Hughes R., Darling A., Decker C. (2020). The relationship between campus recreation facility use and retention for first-time undergraduate students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 24, 421-447.