Investigation of University Student-Athletes’ Perceptions of Wearable Technological Sports Product Usage in Terms of Demographic Variables
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70736/spjses.331Keywords:
University student-athletes, usage perception, wearable technological sports productsAbstract
The aim of this study is to examine the usage perceptions of wearable technological sports products among university students who actively participate in sports, in terms of various demographic variables. The sample of the study consists of 250 university student-athletes enrolled in the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University and who regularly participate in sporting activities. The participants are involved in different sports branches and use wearable technological products in individual or team-based training processes. The data were collected through a “Personal Information Form” developed by the researcher and the “Wearable Technological Sports Products Usage Perception Scale (WTSPUPS).” In determining the differences in scale sub-dimensions according to the demographic variables of the participants, it was found that the total scale score and all sub-dimensions did not demonstrate normal distribution. Therefore, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis) were preferred in the sub-dimension analyses. As a result, it was determined that the perception levels of university student-athletes toward wearable technological sports products are generally at a moderate level. This perception level is significantly influenced by behavioral variables such as frequency of product use and weekly frequency of engaging in sports. Student-athletes who use the products more frequently and participate in sports more days per week were found to have higher scores in the sub-dimensions of perceived benefit, functionality, and intention to continue use. Additionally, gender was found to be a determining variable in the intention to continue use sub-dimension, while income level was found to be influential in the fashion-aesthetics and functionality sub-dimensions. Age was found to have a positive effect particularly on the facilitating conditions sub-dimension.
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