I Have to do it, but I like it: The Sense of Enjoyment and Obligation in Adolescents’ Organized Leisure-Time Activities

Abstract

Adolescents’ organized leisure-time activities (OLTA) are expected to be enjoyable. However, the role of obligation within OLTA participation remains unclear. Building on self-determination theory, this paper conceptualizes obligation within OLTA in analogy to types of motivation, with potentially diverse relationships with enjoyment. Using a sample of 664 11–15-year-olds from seven Czech schools, the relationship between enjoyment and obligation in OLTA was assessed using correlations. Linear regressions were conducted to analyze the associations of enjoyment and obligation with sociodemographic factors and dimensions of participation. The majority of the adolescents enjoyed their OLTA, while over half of them concurrently perceived them as an obligation. OLTA were perceived as more enjoyable among younger adolescents, those with higher family affluence and greater breadth and a longer duration of participation. Such associations were not found in feelings of obligation. The sense of obligation seemingly has its place in adolescents’ OLTA, which warrants further research.