Investigation Of the Reasons Why Individuals Who Trek Participate in The Activity (The Kayseri Province Example)

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to determine the reasons of individuals participating in nature walks in Kayseri province for participating in such a physical activity. This researches who participate in nature walks in Kayseri province, consists of 347 people with an average age of 30,3±11,9years old. These participants consisted of 133 female and 214 male individuals. This study was used SPSS 22 program for data analysis. To sample size determination was used to G*Power (3.1.9.4). The scale created by Ekici et al. (2012) consisting of 5 sub-dimensions (Social, Healthy, Education, Time, Observation) and likert-type 24 questions. In the research, For the evaluation of the data obtained through the scale application, on the other hand, descriptor statistical methods such as frequencies (f), percentages (%), averages (x̄), and standard deviations (SD) were utilized. It was accepted that the data do not show normal distribution and it was decided to use nonparametric tests Which is comparing in pairwise Man-Whitney U and more than two parameters’ comparisons Kruskal Wallis test also. At the end of the research, it was found that there was a significant difference (p0,005) in the health, education, observation, social, time sub-dimensions according to marital status, observation according to gender variable, and social health and education sub-dimensions according to education level.  As a results, it was found that marital status and education level are important factors in participation in nature walks.           Keywords:  Education, Health, Recreation, Social, Trekking