This study aimed to examine the effect of the reasons for starting sports and expectations on the quality of life of individuals who engage in sports in fitness centers using structural equation modeling. The study sample consisted of 400 individuals (170 females, 230 males, age = 23.95 years, SD = 01.09) using private and public fitness centers in Ağrı province. In the collection of research data, the Reasons for Starting Sports and Expectations from Sports Scale developed by Sunay and Saraçoğlu (2016) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, the validity and reliability of which were conducted by Eser et al. The hypothesis model, tested using path analysis, showed an excellent fit to the data. The results of the study showed that the relationships between reasons for starting sports and expectations were related to the direct and indirect effects of general health, physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and Environment-TR. The relationships between reasons for starting sports and the quality of life sub-dimensions of general health (β=-0.22, p=.000), physical health (β=-0.12, p=.000), and psychological health (β=-0.17, p=. 000), social relationships (β=-0.08, p=.045), environment-TR (β=-0.14, p=.001), reasons for engaging in sports professionally and general health (β=0.83, p=.000), physical health (β=0.88, p=. 000), psychological health (β=0.88, p=.000), social relationships (β=0.82, p=.000), environment TR (β=0.89, p=.000), and expectations from sports and general health (β=-0.27, p=. 000), physical health (β=-0,39, p=.000), psychological health (β=-0,34, p=.000), social relations (β=-0,34, p=.000), and environment-TR (β=-0,30, p=.000) were found to have a negative effect. While it is thought that one of the underlying reasons why individuals engage in fitness sports is to improve their quality of life for the future, it can be mentioned that carrying this situation to the expectation dimension may create disappointment.

Sports, fitness, quality of life