The state of leisure life situation and the meaning of leisure education for college students in China

Abstract

Leisure time is an important ingredient of college students’ lives and affects their quality of life. This article explores the state of college students’ leisure life situation in China, considering aspects such as economic conditions, activity content, group consciousness, time programming, social environment, and personal demands. Based on questionnaires and interviews in four representative universities of China, we found that the main problems of college students’ leisure life related to shortage of financial support for leisure activities, unreasonable distribution of leisure time, negative leisure activities, inadequate focus on social aspects of leisure, lack of material conditions and supports, an individual sense of emptiness, low satisfaction with leisure activity, problems with leisure identified, etc. This study aims to help college students develop a positive understanding of the value of leisure and its characteristics based on the application of leisure education, an educational activity and process that can lead college students to make good use of their leisure time. Therefore, they are capable to arrange their leisure life scientifically and gain more valuable knowledge and experiences without wasting their leisure time.