UNIVERSITY SPORT FACILITIES AS EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: THE ROLE OF FACILITY SATISFACTION AND SPORT PARTICIPATION IN STUDENT WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION

Lavinia Falese

Abstract


Universities are increasingly expected to promote students' health, well-being and social inclusion. This study investigated the associations between sport participation, satisfaction with university sport facilities, social integration and mental well-being among 122 students enrolled at Jagiellonian University (Poland). Mental well-being was assessed using the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS). Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed. Facility satisfaction was positively associated with mental well-being (r = .28, p = .002), while sport participation was positively associated with social integration (r = .30, p < .001). Regression analyses showed that facility satisfaction and social integration independently predicted mental well-being, whereas sport participation primarily contributed to social integration. The findings suggest that university sport facilities function not only as places for physical activity but also as educational and social environments that support students' well-being and campus inclusion.


Keywords


University sport facilities; Mental well-being; Social integration; Higher education; Campus recreation.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32043/gsd.v10i4.1897

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