Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to face extreme conditions that they are not used to. In this period, recreation activities are one of the most important elements that contribute to the relaxation of people both physically and psychologically. However, due to the changing conditions during the pandemic, people's recreational activities have become limited. This study aims to determine how university students' moods are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic and how their recreational expectations and preferences change in the process. Within the scope of the study, an online survey was conducted with 316 students (undergraduate, associate degree) studying at Artvin Çoruh University and the data were collected according to the snowball sampling method. According to the results of the questionnaire consisting of 4 stages and a total of 31 questions, it was determined that 69% of the students aged 20-24 experienced the most feelings of boredom, longing, fear-anxiety, hopelessness and loneliness the most during the pandemic period. It was determine that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant change (p<0.05) in the recreation preferences of the students. In addition, their awareness of the importance of natural areas has increased and the pandemic period in general had a significant effect on the student’s willingness to engage in outdoor recreation in their free time. It has been determined that the features such as the recreation area clean and unspoiled, safe, natural, presenting the landscape’s beauty, allowing time to spend with family and friends, being calm, easy transportation, economic and providing picnic activities are effective in the preferences.

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