Özet:

This study aims to investigate the relationship between basic psychological needs and mental well-being of exercise participants, and to determine the role of some demographic variables and basic psychological needs in predicting mental well-being. In the study based on a relational screening model, 303 participants filled the Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BSNS), the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), and the Personal Information Form. To analyze the data, besides descriptive statistics, independent groups t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni multiple comparison test and hierarchical regression analyses were used. The correlational analysis has shown that WEMWBS' total score has positive correlations with BSNS total score, BSNS's need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness sub-dimension scores. In the study, significant differences have been found between the variables of age, level of education, perceived welfare, reasoning for participation, exercise history, and weekly training frequency. In the hierarchical regression analysis conducted to determine the predictors of mental well-being; perceived welfare level, exercise history and weekly training frequency added to the equation in the first block explained 58% of the variance of mental well-being; furthermore the added items as need for autonomy and competence needs in the second block increased the total explained variance to 78%. According to the findings, it can be said that there is a strong relationship between mental well-being and basic psychological needs in exercise participants; besides, perceived welfare level, exercise history, weekly training frequency, need for autonomy and competence needs have been found as predictors of mental well-being.

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