Mehmet Kara
1
,
Erkan Gulgosteren
2
,
Ozan Yilmaz
3
1
Department of Physical Education and Sport, Mersin University, Mersin, 33343, Türkiye
2
Recreation Department, Mersin University, Mersin, 33343, Türkiye
3
Department of Physical Education and Sport, Mersin University, Mersin, 33343, Türkiye
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between dispositional hope and sport-specific life satisfaction among active licensed bocce athletes and to test the moderating role of marital status in this relationship. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional and correlational research design. The sample consisted of 404 bocce athletes selected through a convenience sampling method. The Dispositional Hope Scale and the Sport-Specific Life Satisfaction Scale were used as data collection instruments. Correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and moderation analysis using PROCESS Macro (Model 1) were performed. In the moderation analysis, 5,000 bootstrap resamples and 95% confidence intervals were utilized. Correlation results indicated statistically significant but low-level relationships between hope components and sport-specific life satisfaction (r = 0.164; r = 0.105). Although the regression model was found to be significant, it explained 2.7% of the variance in sport-specific life satisfaction (R² = 0.027). The agency thinking dimension was significantly and positively associated with sport-specific life satisfaction, whereas the pathways dimension did not make a significant contribution. The moderation analysis revealed that marital status significantly moderated the relationship between hope and sport-specific life satisfaction (p < 0.01). Simple slope analyses demonstrated that this relationship was stronger among single athletes. In conclusion, dispositional hope can be considered a statistically significant but limited psychological variable associated with sport-specific life satisfaction. The findings support the multidimensional nature of sport-specific life satisfaction and suggest that social context (marital status) may play a role in this relationship.
Kara, M., Gulgosteren, E., & Yilmaz, O. (2026). Paths to the goal: The moderating effect of marital status on the relationship between sustained hope and life satisfaction in bocce players. International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences, 17(63), 68–79. https://doi.org/10.70736/ijoess.2267
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Erkan Gulgosteren
2
