A Comparison of Recreational Sports and Leisure Time Participation of College/University Students in China, Japan, Korea, Iran, the United States, and Canada—with Students in the Republic of China (Taiwan)

Abstract

University students play a major role in improving the quality of society and the productivity of a nation in terms of their physical fitness level and recreational activity (Cheng, 1998). This article examines the status, the generally recognized importance and perceived benefits of recreational and sport participation (leisure time activities) for college students. Additionally, a comparison, by means of a survey instrument, is made between university students' recreational sport participation in six different countries—China, Japan, Korea, Iran, the United States, and Canada—with the recreational sport participation of university students within the Republic of China (Taiwan). The survey reveals the type of recreational participation of collegiate students in these countries, as well as factors that affected the students' choice of recreational and leisure time pursuits at their colleges and universities, with implications for future planning of recreational and sport activities for students at colleges and universities.