Two sides of time in the leisure experience of youth: Time investment and time perspectives

Abstract

The aim of this study is to discover which dimensions and aspects of the leisure experience are more closely related to time invested in leisure activities and to time perspectives (TPs). A sample of 231 young people aged between 18 and 24 years old responded to an adaptation of the Time Budget Technique and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. The results show that a leisure activity may be perceived as more freely carried out or more satisfactory without this experience correlating directly with the time invested in the activity. As far as the TPs are concerned, the present hedonistic correlates with the leisure experience, although there are cases (mass media use) where experience of the present is both hedonistic and fatalistic. Other leisure activities (hobbies and computing) produced a high level of satisfaction and were linked to the past positive and present hedonistic. The results indicate that the experience that accompanies certain leisure activities correlates with different TPs and time investments in these activities.