Examining the Relationship Between Life Skills Supporting Learning and Leadership Behavior Levels in Recreation Department Education

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between recreation department students' learning-supporting life skills and leadership behavior levels. A correlational screening model was used as a research method. The research population consisted of 250 recreation department students studying at the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Fırat University in the 2024-2025 academic year. The study sample consisted of 164 students. A personal information form, a recreational leadership behavior scale, and a learning-supporting life skills scale were used as data collection tools. SPSS 24 analysis program was used to analyze the data. Normal distribution was determined. Percentage, frequency, and arithmetic mean values were calculated. T-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analysis were used to determine effect size. All analyses were conducted at a 95% confidence interval. As a result, it was determined that the participants demonstrated positive tendencies in terms of both leadership and life skills. Leadership behaviors and life skills were similar across age groups, while no relationship was observed between these variables and gender. Leadership training was found to have no significant impact on leadership behaviors and life skills, but individuals who regularly read leadership-related documents (books, articles, etc.) adopted a less oppressive and controlling leadership style. Furthermore, it was concluded that as students' life skills improved, their recreational leadership behaviors also strengthened, and therefore, every improvement in life skills contributed to a significant improvement in leadership behavior.Keywords: Leadership Behavior, Learning, Life Skills, Recreation.