Understanding How Sport Activity Shapes Work Attitudes: The Mediating Role of Impulsivity Among Social Welfare Professionals

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the relationships between living with sports (sport-oriented lifestyle), impulsivity, and attitudes toward working life among social welfare professionals in Türkiye, with a specific focus on the mediating role of impulsivity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative research design was employed, collecting data from 1,534 participants aged 18 and older via an online survey. The majority of the sample consisted of women (67.2%), with a mean age of 28.96 years. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS for preliminary statistics and IBM AMOS for confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Living with sports was negatively associated with impulsivity (β = –0.072, p <.05) and positively associated with attitudes toward working life (β = 0.064, p <.05). Impulsivity was negatively related to attitudes toward working life (β = –0.185, p <.001) and significantly mediated the relationship between living with sports and work attitudes (β = 0.013, p <.05). The model accounted for 5.5% of the variance in impulsivity and 4.4% in attitudes toward working life. Discussion: The study results suggest that a lifestyle enriched by regular sports participation can reduce impulsive tendencies and support the development of more positive work attitudes among social welfare professionals. Conclusion: This study provides novel empirical evidence on the triadic relationship between sport-oriented lifestyle, impulsivity, and work attitudes. It highlights the importance of integrating sport-based activities into organizational strategies to support emotional regulation, well-being, and sustainable professional engagement in social services. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.