Exploring Happiness and Sports Commitment in Village School Students Participating in Basic Bocce Training

Abstract

Study aim(s): This study aims to examine the effect of bocce training on middle school students’ happiness and sports commitment. Additionally, it seeks to contribute to the literature by exploring whether a relatively simple and accessible physical activity like bocce can support students’ psychological well-being and promote long-term involvement in sports.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 70 middle school students who were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control groups. The experimental group participated in an 8-week bocce training program, while the control group continued with their regular school routine without any additional physical activity. Happiness and sports commitment scales were administered as pre-tests and post-tests. The study employed an experimental, sequential design. Data were analyzed using SPSS with a significance level set at .05. For group comparisons, the Mann-Whitney U test was applied to independent groups, and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used for dependent group comparisons.

Results: Pre-test results indicated no significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of happiness and sports commitment. However, post-test findings showed a significant increase in both variables for the experimental group, whereas no meaningful changes were observed in the control group. Additionally, post-test comparisons revealed a significant difference between the groups, with the experimental group demonstrating higher scores.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that bocce training has a positive impact on middle school students’ happiness and sports commitment. These results highlight the potential benefits of incorporating structured bocce programs into school activities to promote students’ emotional well-being and foster long-term engagement in physical activity.