The effect of feeling of urban security on participation in active leisure time considering the mediating role of social participation in sports

Introduction: To improve urban and social conditions, it is important to pay serious attention to creating safe environments and promoting social participation in sports activities. The present study aims to develop a model to investigate the relationship between the sense of urban security and leisure time and social participation in sports.

Methods: The research method of the current research is descriptive-correlational in the form of structural equation modeling. Its statistical population includes all people over 18 years of age living in 17 cities of the country, and the sample number of 384 people was randomly selected in a multi-stage cluster. Data collection was done using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, the reliability of which was obtained using Cronbach's alpha of 0.91, which was a suitable value. Evaluation of the proposed model was done through structural equation modeling and using SPSS and AMOS software.

Results: The results of the statistical analysis showed that with 99% confidence, there is not only a positive and meaningful relationship between the sense of urban security and leisure time, but also the sense of urban security by influencing social participation in sports, indirectly with leisure time and its components. It is related.

Conclusion: Based on the experimental findings of the current research, it is suggested that in order to increase social participation in sports and fill free time, environmental conditions with security and peace as well as necessary social support should be provided. By examining the relationships between research structures, this study provides a framework to increase the tendency to fill free time through social participation in sports, according to the strategies to improve citizens' sense of security.

Keywords: urban security, leisure time, social participation, structural equations, AMOS software