Move in nature, get strong with smart sports: physical activity habits and health-related psychological factors among adults exercising in green and smart sports environments


ULUKAN M., Bingölbalı N., Tuncer M., Karakulak İ., Rüzgar K., Sarı O., ...Daha Fazla

Frontiers in public health, cilt.14, ss.1908291, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 14
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1908291
  • Dergi Adı: Frontiers in public health
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1908291
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: green exercise, perceived stress, physical activity, psychological resilience, quality of life, smart sports environments, sport motivation, structural equation modeling
  • İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Introduction: Sedentary lifestyles threaten physical and psychological well-being. Nature-integrated green sports environments and digitally supported smart sports environments may promote physical activity and sustainable health. This study examined the direct and indirect associations among green facility exposure/use, smart facility/technology interaction, physical activity, sport motivation, perceived stress, psychological resilience, and quality of life. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational design was used with 300 adults living in Türkiye (168 women and 132 men; mean age = 33.4 years, SD = 9.7). Data were collected online between 22 May and 14 November 2025 and analyzed using a hybrid structural equation model combining observed composite indices and latent psychometric constructs. Results: The model showed acceptable fit (χ2/df = 2.10, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.051, SRMR = 0.044). Physical activity was positively associated with sport motivation (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), which was positively associated with psychological resilience (β = 0.42, p < 0.001) and quality of life (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). Green facility exposure/use (β = 0.18, p < 0.05) and smart facility/technology interaction (β = 0.12, p < 0.05) were positively associated with physical activity. Perceived stress was negatively associated with psychological resilience (β = -0.33, p < 0.01) and quality of life (β = -0.29, p < 0.01). Indirect associations linked physical activity with quality of life through sport motivation and psychological resilience. Discussion: Green and smart exercise contexts may support physical activity and related motivational and psychological processes. Because the study was cross-sectional, the findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. Nature-based and technology-supported opportunities may inform sports-environment planning and public-health strategies.