Associations between Adolescents\u2019 Social Leisure Activities and the Onset of Mental Disorders in Young Adulthood

Johanna Timonen,Anni Alakokkare,Sami Räsänen,Mika Niemelä,Helinä Hakko

doi:10.1007/s10964-021-01462-8

Johanna Timonen, Anni Alakokkare + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01462-8

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Abstract

The association of leisure time activities with specific mental disorders has mainly remained unclear because of lack of such research. This study analyzed the association of different levels of social leisure time activity during adolescence (ages 15–16 years) with the incidence of mental disorders during adolescence and young adulthood between the ages of 16–33 years. The study population consisted of 6838 (females 51.5%) participants from the longitudinal follow-up study, the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986, covering 72% of the total 1986 birth cohort. Psychiatric morbidity of the participants was followed through nationwide health registers until the end of the year 2018 when the participants were 33 years old. High social leisure time activity in adolescence associated with lower incidence of psychiatric disorders in general, and specifically, with affective, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Low social leisure time activity was related to increased incidence of any psychiatric disorder in general, and particularly to anxiety and behavioral disorders. In terms of prevention of mental disorders, these study findings encourage families, schools and other communities to continue to enhance and develop community-based social leisure time activities for children and adolescents.

Highlights

Adolescence is a significant period for psychological development
The attrition analysis made in the follow-up survey at age 15–16 years showed that participation in the survey was less common among males (64 vs. 71%, p < 0.001), those living in urban areas (66 vs. 71%, p < 0.001) and those having a parent with a psychiatric disorder (58 vs. 69%, p < 0.001) (Miettunen et al, 2013) In the follow-up survey, questions related to leisure time activities were answered by 7283 (99.2% of survey participants) cohort members, of whom 7051 (96.0% survey participants) gave permission to use their data for research purposes
The main finding of the study was that socially active leisure time in adolescence was associated with a lower incidence of psychiatric disorders

Summary

Introduction

Adolescence is a significant period for psychological development. During this period, leisure time activities make up a significant part of life and they are generally acknowledged to have positive impact on adolescents’ current mental wellbeing (e.g. Rodriguez et al, 2019) the relationship between leisure time activity and the development of specific mental disorders has remained unclear. Adolescence is a significant period for psychological development During this period, leisure time activities make up a significant part of life and they are generally acknowledged to have positive impact on adolescents’ current mental wellbeing Leisure time activities make up a significant part of life and they are generally acknowledged to have positive impact on adolescents’ current mental wellbeing Leisure time activity is commonly defined as having fun and relaxing activities (Torkildsen, 2005) Involvement in these activities has shown to strengthen adolescents’ physical health, mental well-being, relationship with parents, peer support and perception of academic well-being (e.g., Rochelle et al, 2013). Participation in meaningful social leisure time activities has been found to have a positive impact on current and future mental health (Ströhle et al, 2007; Hoegh Poulsen et al, 2016; Doré et al, 2018)

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