Ecorecreation and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Social Services in the Social Integration of Hearing Impaired Athletes

Ecorecreative activities for disadvantaged groups not only improve the physical and mental health of individuals, but also contribute to broader societal issues such as social justice and environmental sustainability. Therefore, it is of great importance to support and disseminate such activities. Based on this view, the aim of the study is to examine the life satisfaction of disadvantaged individuals participating in eco-creative activities. The study group consisted of 87 participants (mean age= 22.6±2.63) who were selected by random sampling method and whose ages ranged between 19 and 36. In addition to the personal information form created by the researcher, "Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS)" developed by Diener et al. (1985) and adapted into Turkish by Dağlı and Baysal was used for data collection. The hypotheses formed within the scope of the research were tested using t-test and ANOVA analysis methods for independent samples. As a result of the findings, the scores of the participants from the life satisfaction scale were evaluated according to their participation in eco-creative activities. It was found that individuals who participated in eco-creative activities had higher life satisfaction mean scores than those who did not participate (p<0.05). No statistical significance was found in the mean scores obtained from the life satisfaction scale according to the gender variable (p>0.05). On the other hand, it was determined that there was no statistical significance according to the mean scores obtained from the scale according to the emotional state of the participants' participation in eco-creative activities (p>0.05). In conclusion, eco-creative activities are an effective tool to increase life satisfaction of individuals in disadvantaged groups. These activities enable individuals to connect with nature, cope with stress and improve their overall quality of life.