Importance of Sports Activities for Obese Youth in Socialization Process

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the contribution of sport to obese youth duringsocialization, considering the socio-cultural and economic characteristics of obese adolescents. In the study participated 118 obese children members of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Family Life and Youth Centers who played sports or participated in sport activities in the 15-18 age range. As a data collection tool, the socialization scale consisting of 69 questions developed by Sahan (2007) was used. A computer-aided data analysis program was used in the research data. Frequency analysis was applied first and tables were made during the analysis of the data. The percentages of the variables in the sample were determined, and the characteristics of the sample were evaluated generally in these tables. Analysis procedures were applied according to hypotheses later. The data were evaluated by the Scheffe test, the Mann Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis Nonparametric test. As a result of the research; it was found that there was no significant difference between the levels of socialization of obese youth according to the age variable and there was a significant difference between sexes, household income levels and the sports and socialization levels of obese youth who are interested and who are uninterested in sport. At the end of the research, it was observed that male obese teenagers had higher levels of socialization than female obese teenagers in terms of high income level and interest in sport.