The Correlation Between Recreation Experiences and Alcohol Use: A Study on University Youth

The purpose of the study is to examine the correlation between university students’ recreational experiences and their levels of alcohol consumption and to compare them in terms of certain demographic variables. The study sample consisted of 661 students enrolled at Yalova University (199 females and 462 males) who were recruited through convenience sampling and participated voluntarily. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Recreation Experience Preference Scale, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Descriptive statistics (percentage, frequency, and arithmetic mean), the Independent Samples t-test, and Pearson Correlation analysis were employed in the statistical evaluation of the data. The findings revealed significant correlations between all subdimensions of the Recreation Experience Preference Scale and scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. It was determined that the alcohol consumption levels of the university student sample were largely within the risky use category. Additionally, the results demonstrated that students’ tendency to consume alcohol decreased as their engagement in recreational experiences increased. These findings suggest that recreational involvement may serve as a protective factor against risky alcohol use among young adults. Cite this article as: Satılmış, S. E. (2026). The correlation between recreation experiences and alcohol use: A study on university youth. Research in Sports Science, 16, 0004, doi: 10.5152/rss.2026.26004.