Organized Leisure-time Activities Research Articles

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

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.

Icelandic Prevention Model for Rural Youth: A Feasibility Study in Central Appalachia.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing the Icelandic model for Primary Substance Use Prevention (IPM) in rural Central Appalachia. Guided by the IPM's theoretical framework, 26 stakeholders from a single county in West Virginia were purposefully recruited during the spring of 2019 and divided into four focus groups. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analyzed into themes based on IPM premises. Focus group material produced seven themes: Drug use overall, Drug treatment and other service needs, Poverty, Parenting/Caregiver practices, Transportation, Downtime/Leisure time activities, and Opportunities for solutions. General support was found for the potential of the IPM in the region. Preferably, the implementation of the model should coincide with attention to the adult population as drug use was reported to be plaguing the whole community. Treatment options were few and mostly far away. General poverty and lack of public transportation further stifled progress and potential for change. Organized leisure time activities and programs for youth were scarce and mostly seasonal. Suggested solutions for the adult community included workforce and skill training, coupled with increased opportunities for organized leisure activities for youth, and access to healthy role models via schools and faith-based organizations. We conclude that implementation of the IPM would be feasible to prevent substance use initiation and progression among youth in the rural Central Appalachia. We present several specific recommendations for policy and practice that address factors unique to this environment to initiate the IPM implementation development and suggest initial model application strategies.

Lights out, let\u2019s dance! An investigation into participation in No Lights, No Lycra and its association with health and wellbeing

BackgroundOrganized, leisure time physical activities are an important part of a population approach to increase total physical activity participation. Dancing is a type of organized leisure time activity which may be utilized to enhance public health. Individuals commonly participate in dance during childhood however few maintain participation into adulthood, dropping out of the activity while young. This study aimed to investigate who participates in an emerging dance activity, “No Lights, No Lycra”, which encourages people to participate in free-form dancing in the dark for 60 min designed as an inclusive, nonjudgmental, drug and alcohol-free community setting. This version of dance provides a modified opportunity for organized leisure time physical activity. No Lights, No Lycra has recorded increases in attendance at their events over the past decade. This popularity warrants an investigation into participant’s demographic characteristics, their total physical activity, as well as their motivations for dancing in the dark and any impacts on health and wellbeing.MethodsThis study invited No Lights, No Lycra participants from across Australia to complete a cross-sectional, self-report online survey. Participants were recruited while attending an organized session or through social media channels. The descriptive data provided through survey responses were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics.ResultsParticipants (n = 1190, 92% Female) reported their main reason for dancing in the dark was to have fun. Most participants were insufficiently active, with 88% of responders not meeting physical activity guidelines. The No Lights, No Lycra dance sessions contributed 23% of their total annual participation in organized physical activities.ConclusionNo Lights, No Lycra attracts adult women, rather than the typical dance participants – children; These women did not meet physical activity guidelines and typically had low levels of engagement in organized physical activity. Participation in No Lights, No Lycra, shows promise to increase women’s physical activity. This study into No Lights, No Lycra demonstrates how dance can be modified to engage a relatively inactive portion of the community. More should be done to understand how modifications to organized sport and physical activities can motivate and maintain engagement of typically inactive people.

Unhealthy eating habits and participation in organized leisure-time activities in Czech adolescents.

Participation in OLTA was associated with healthier eating habits (e.g., consumption of fruit and vegetables) and a lower occurrence of unhealthy eating habits (e.g., consumption of soft drinks). Alternatively, our findings indicate that non-participation in OLTA can serve as an indicator of an unhealthy lifestyle in adolescence. What is Known • Unhealthy eating habits in youth tend to persist into adulthood and are related to adverse health consequences later in life. • The type of the leisure-time activity (participation in sport, non-sport, sport, and other activities) affects the strength of developmental outcomes in adolescents. What is New • Youth participating in non-sport activity and sport and other activity concurrently reported lower rates of unhealthy eating habits (e.g., eating junk food, eating in front of the TV/computer). • Non-participation in OLTA could be viewed as a potential risk factor for an unhealthy lifestyle in adolescents.

Can organized leisure-time activities buffer the negative outcomes of unstructured activities for adolescents\u2019 health?

ObjectivesWe aimed to assess the associations of involvement in selected unstructured activities (UA) with health-risk behaviours and academic achievement and the degree to which the participation in organized leisure-time activities (OLTA) changes these associations.MethodsUsing a sample of 6935 Czech adolescents aged 13 and 15 years, we investigated adolescents’ weekly involvement in hanging out, visiting shopping malls for fun and meeting friends after 8 p.m., OLTA and engagement in three health-risk behaviours and academic achievement.ResultsWeekly involvement in the selected UA was associated with higher odds for regular smoking, being drunk, having early sexual intercourse and low academic achievement. Concurrent participation in OLTA did not buffer these negative outcomes, except for sexual experience. However, those highly engaged only in UA were more likely to participate in the health-risk behaviours and report worse academic achievement than those participating in any OLTA concurrently.ConclusionsThe selected UA are strongly associated with an increased occurrence of adolescents’ health-risk behaviours and low academic achievement. Concurrent participation in OLTA does not buffer these negative outcomes significantly, but adolescents engaged only in UA consistently report the least favourable outcomes.

Do family environment factors play a role in adolescents' involvement in organized activities?

The study assessed the association of family environment factors with adolescents' participation in organized leisure-time activities (OLTA). We used data on 10,472 Czech adolescents aged 11–15 years (49.2% boys) from the 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. The associations of family support, the presence of parental screen-time rules and joint family activities with participation in at least one OLTA were assessed using logistic regression. High family support and the presence of parental screen-time rules were associated with higher odds of OLTA participation. Moreover, adolescents playing sports, indoor games and going for walks with their families at least weekly were more likely to participate in OLTA. Conversely, those spending time in joint family TV/video watching on most days were less likely to do so. A supportive family environment and direct parental involvement in their adolescent children's leisure are associated with OLTA participation in early to middle adolescence.

Emmanuel Lepage, l’invitation au voyage

The study assessed the association of family environment factors with adolescents' participation in organized leisure-time activities (OLTA). We used data on 10,472 Czech adolescents aged 11–15 years (49.2% boys) from the 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. The associations of family support, the presence of parental screen-time rules and joint family activities with participation in at least one OLTA were assessed using logistic regression. High family support and the presence of parental screen-time rules were associated with higher odds of OLTA participation. Moreover, adolescents playing sports, indoor games and going for walks with their families at least weekly were more likely to participate in OLTA. Conversely, those spending time in joint family TV/video watching on most days were less likely to do so. A supportive family environment and direct parental involvement in their adolescent children's leisure are associated with OLTA participation in early to middle adolescence.

Participation in organized leisure-time activities and risk behaviors in Czech adolescents

ObjectivesThe study aimed to assess the associations between participation in organized leisure-time activities (OLTA) and risk behaviors, and whether the associations differed by gender, age, and pattern of OLTA involvement.MethodsData from the 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study on 10,279 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old Czech adolescents (49.2% boys) were used. We assessed the associations between OLTA participation and risk behaviors, and modification by age and gender.ResultsOLTA participants were less likely to smoke, get drunk repeatedly, or skip school and, in contrast, more likely to get injured and fight repeatedly. The associations with lower occurrence of risk behaviors were the strongest for artists, while none was significant for adolescents participating only in team sports. Girls participating in OLTA had lower odds to smoke, get drunk, or skip school than boys, and these boys had higher odds to get injured or fight.ConclusionsOLTA participation is associated with lower occurrence of repeated substance use and truancy and inversely with higher odds for physical fights and injuries. Girls, in general, are at lower risk when participating in OLTA than boys.

WEEKEND TOURISM AS A CULTURAL PHENOMENON

The article presents the conception of weekend tourism as a cultural phenomenon. The paper defines social functions of weekend tourism and the main stages of its development: the initial stage of weekend tourism, the stage when it becomes an organized leisure time activity, and the stage of its popularization. The article also introduces a classification of weekend tours and major centers for weekend tourism.

Is Participation in Organized Leisure-Time Activities Associated with School Performance in Adolescence?

BackgroundOrganized leisure-time activities (OLTA) have been identified as a context suitable for improvement of school performance. This study aimed to assess the associations between participation in OLTA and school engagement, school-related stress, academic achievement and whether these associations differ by specific pattern of OLTA participation, gender and age. Furthermore, it assessed whether OLTA participants are more likely to acquire support for schoolwork from outside the family.MethodsThe sample concerned 10,483 adolescents (49.2% boys) aged 11, 13 and 15 from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children data collection in 2014 in the Czech Republic. Logistic regressions adjusted for gender and age were used to analyse the associations between participation in OLTA and four education-related outcomes.ResultsParticipation in OLTA was associated with higher school engagement, lower levels of school-related stress and better academic achievement regardless of gender and age. The strongest associations were observed for adolescents involved in various types of OLTA concurrently, with odds ratios ranging from 1.34 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–1.54) for lower school-related stress to 1.97 (95% CI 1.73–2.25) for above-average academic achievement. OLTA participants were also more likely to have a non-familial person to help them with schoolwork, though this association was weaker in 15-year-olds.ConclusionYouth involvement in OLTA is linked to general better school performance and attachment to school. Adolescents participating in more activities at the same time have the best school performance.

When children play, they feel better: organized activity participation and health in adolescents.

BackgroundParticipation in organized leisure-time activities (OLTA) has been linked to healthy youth development. This study aimed to assess whether participation in OLTA is associated with both physical and mental health in adolescents, and whether this association differs by pattern of activity participation, age and gender.MethodsThe present study was based on data from the 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study in the Czech Republic. This data concerned 10,503 adolescents (49.2 % boys) aged 11, 13 and 15. A cluster analysis was carried out to obtain patterns of activity participation and yielded five groups (all-rounders, artists, individual sports, team sports and inactive). The association between participation in types of OLTA and physical and mental health was analysed using logistic regression models adjusted for age and gender. We also assessed interactions between types of OLTA and gender and age.ResultsParticipation in OLTA was associated with better self-rated health and higher life satisfaction regardless of gender or age. Participation in team or individual sports was associated with better general health and less frequent health complaints in boys, while participation in art activities was associated with lower occurrence of health complaints in girls and 11-year-olds.ConclusionParticipation in OLTA is associated with better physical and mental health in adolescents. The association varies by pattern of activity participation and is partly gender- and age-specific.

Leisure-time as a health-promoting setting –experiences from youth-centers in Sweden

Background: Leisure-time is an important part of young people’s lives. Despite this, leisure-time settings have hitherto had a minor role in setting-based health-promotion initiatives. Improving adolescents’ quality of leisure-time activities can reduce social differences in health. Youth centers can therefore be good settings for promoting health. However, young people with immigrant backgrounds participate less in organized leisure-time activities. The aim of the study is to increase awareness of the importance of young people's leisure-time activities in a health promotion perspective. Further questions like who participate and why, what they gain, and what particular strategies the different youth-centers use in their everyday work will be presented. Methods: In this practice-based longitudinal study data were collected 2012-2014 at two youth-centers in multicultural, socially deprived suburbs using surveys with 12-16 year old adolescents (n=207). Individual interviews with staff (n=7) and focus-groups interviews with adolescents (6 groups, 50 % girls). Moreover individual interviews (n=3) were made with cooperation partners in the neighborhoods. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods were used for analysis. Results: Most of the participants are second generation immigrants. They feel healthy, enjoy school, and feel quite safe in their neighborhoods. They participate in youth-centers to do fun and interesting activities, to see friends as well as to have leaders that care about them. If factors like support from youth-center leaders, influence, gender equality or alcohol and drug rules are important for making adolescents use less alcohol or feel better will also be revealed. Strategies for recruiting youth to youth-centers are central to succeeding. Conclusions: Youth centers can be health-promoting settings when their strategies include some important factors, both in theory and in daily practice. Main messages: Leisure-time activities are underestimated health promoting settings. Youth-centers can be a health-promoting setting.

Two NGO-Run Youth-Centers in Multicultural, Socially Deprived Suburbs in Sweden—Who Are the Participants?

Objective: Leisure-time is an important part of young people’s lives. One way to reduce social differences in health is to improve adolescents’ living conditions, for example by enhancing the quality of after-school activities. Multicultural, socially deprived suburbs have less youth participation in organized leisure-time activities. This study explores who the participants are at two NGO-run youth-centers in multicultural, socially deprived suburbs in Sweden and whether socio-demographic, health-related, and leisure-time factors affect the targeted participation. Methods: The study can be seen as an explanatory mixed-methods study where qualitative data help explain initial quantitative results. The included data are a survey with youth (n = 207), seven individual interviews with staff, and six focus-groups interviews with young people at two youth-centers in two different cities. Results and Conclusions: The participants in the youth-centers are Swedish born youths having foreign-born parents who live with both parents, often in crowded apartments with many siblings. Moreover they feel healthy, enjoy school and have good contact with their parents. It seems that strategies for recruiting youths to youth-centers have a large impact on who participates. One way to succeed in having a more equal gender and ethnicity distribution is to offer youth activities that are a natural step forward from children’s activities. The youth-centers’ proximity is also of importance for participation, in these types of neighborhoods.

Stress in Relation to Satisfaction with Leisure Experienced by Those Performing in Therapeutic Recreation

Productive and satisfying use of recreation and leisure time has been identified as a potential coping strategy in reducing stress. The purpose of this study was to determine whether professional persons providing therapeutic recreation (organized leisure time activities for disabled persons) actually experience higher than normal stress and to estimate the association between stress and satisfaction with leisure. In this study 22 men and 64 women employed to provide therapeutic recreation services, were given the Personal Strain Questionnaire portion of the Occupational Stress Inventory (2). Scores were compared with scores of 909 persons fmm 130 different occupations (48.8% men, 51.2% women, mean age=44.5 yr.; mean tenure in current job = 6.5 yr.) which were obtained by Osipow and Spokane (2). The satisfaction of recreation therapists with their own leisure was measured on Beard and Ragheb's Leisure Satisfaction Scale (1). The association between satisfaction with leisure and perceived stress was estimated. Recreation therapists did not differ significantly from the normative population on any of the measures of vocational, psychological, interpersonal, or physical strain. On each scale the subjects' mean strain scores (vocational = 16.74, psychological = 18.95, interpersonal = 18.56, physical = 18.59) were well within one standard deviation of the mean for the normative population (2). Scores on the Leisure Satisfaction Scale ranged from 36 to 120, with a mean of 95.42 (n = 85, SD = 14.03). Correlations significantly different from zero were noted between scores on satisfaction with leisure and stress (n =85, p = .05), between Ieisure satisfaction and psychological strain ( - .3O), interpersonal strain ( - .24), and physical strain ( - ,391. A negative correlation between satisfaction with leisure and the total score on the Personal Strain Questionnaire was also noted (r = - .37). There was no evidence that persons employed in conducting therapeutic recreation for others experienced higher occupational stress than did individuals in other professions, based upon comparisons with the normative data. There is a small association between satisfaction with own leisure and level of stress; persons in this study having higher satisfaction with their leisure experienced lower stress.

Skummer kirken fløten? Ungdom i kirkelige ungdomsmiljø

Skimming the Cream? About Youth Involved in Church Youth work In 2012, the authors conducted a survey amongst appr. 1200 Norwegian young people in the post-confirmation age of 15-16 years. A series of 23 semi-clinical interviews of adolescents in the same age group preceded the survey, both including youth participating in church youth activities after confirmation, as well as confirmed youth without further church involvement. The study aims to find out and explain who the adolescents taking part in Church activities are and what motivates them. Do they have a Christian orientation and a Christian identity, and if so, what do those look like? It is evident that religious orientation and practice is somewhat more pronounced amongst participants than their non-participating counterparts, but not very different. The impotance of religious background and experience with church child work as predictors for church involvement in adolescence is confirmed. On average, church youth expose a stronger involvement in organized leisure time activities and general volunteering than their counterparts without church involvement, and they do slightly better at school. The data provide evidence that relational aspects of confirmation and youth work experience play a crucial role for further church involvement. Adolescent religiousness hasa relational nature, too. In contrast to an image of inclusivity and diaconal focus in Church youth work, our findings describe church-youth work as the playground for the better adjusted and more resourceful amongst adolescents. In the light of the positive effects of a large peer and adult network for adolescent development, the findings support a claim by King & Furrow that church involvement and religiousness relate to higher social integration amongst adolescents.