Preferred Leisure Activities Research Articles

Using a visual support package to facilitate independent leisure engagement and choice-making for individuals with moderate to severe autism in Taiwan.

Self-determination encompasses various components, including decision-making and independence, making it a complex process. While the importance of self-determination for individuals with autism spectrum disorder has been explored in previous studies, there is limited research focusing on individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder. Evidence-based practices such as visual activity schedules and video modeling have shown effectiveness in promoting independence among individuals with autism spectrum disorder. To address the need for independence and choice-making among individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder, this study developed a visual support package incorporating visual activity schedules, video modeling, preference assessments, and prompt procedures. By investigating the intervention's effectiveness in three participants, this study contributes to the existing literature on the use of a visual activity schedule and video modeling in enhancing choice-making and independent leisure engagement. Following the intervention, all participants were able to select three leisure activities, develop their own visual schedules, and complete them. Notably, this study conducted preference assessments to determine participants' preferred leisure activities and did not provide additional reinforcement. Practical implications of this research include incorporating video prompting as needed and adjusting activity engagement time. Future research should explore the long-term effectiveness of the visual support package and its application in developing novel skills or vocational activities for individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder. This study fills a critical gap in the literature, providing important insights for practices and research in the field of autism spectrum disorder interventions.

Post COVID shift in BMI with special reference to dietary and behavioural pattern among adolescents: a school based study

Background: Covid-19 was a life altering pandemic leading to children getting restricted indoors with online education. This led to a change in dietary and socio-behavioral pattern. Aim were to assess change in post-Covid BMI in comparison to pre-Covid BMI among adolescents and to determine post-Covid dietary and sleeping habits, screen time, physical activity, psycho-behavioral pattern using a structured questionnaire. Methods: This study was conducted among 108 adolescent and mother dyads studying in a higher secondary school, during November 2022 to March 2023 using a pre-structured questionnaire. Anthropometry measurements were taken and compared with pre-Covid data available in the medical records. Using SPSS 21, analysis was done and association determined using Chi square test (p<0.05 significant). Results: M:F ratio was 1:0.9. Among dietary pattern compared to pre-Covid 54.6% had increase quantity of food intake, of which 83.05% had increase consumption of JUNCS. 68.5% reported disturbances in sleep pattern. Increase in screen time for non-academic is 74% and 51.9% for academic purposes. 49% preferred leisure activity, 25% preferred moderate and 25.9% preferred vigorous physical activity. 60.1% experienced signs of anxiety. On comparison of pre and post-Covid BMI showed that there was an increase in overweight from 22.2% to 37.9% and obesity from 2.8% to 6.5% and was statistically significant. Conclusions: There were significant changes in the lifestyle pattern with a double fold increase in overweight and obesity in the post-Covid assessment. This is an eyeopener regarding future burden of non-communicable disease and a warning to impart healthy lifestyle.

Exploration of the Content and Structure of Preferences for Leisure Activities of People Receiving Adult Day Services Using Concept Mapping.

Providing preferred leisure activities appears to be an important approach to support and empower people receiving adult day services (ADS) allowing them to age in place. To provide the conceptualization for a preference instrument, we actively involved people receiving ADS in exploring the content and structure of their preferences for leisure activities. We chose a concept mapping methodology and involved 16 people receiving ADS. We systematically reviewed the literature and conducted semistructured interviews to generate a set of 80 preferences. Analysis of structuring these preferences resulted in a 3-dimensional cube with 12 clusters. A graphical representation was then interpreted, and the clusters were labeled. Our conceptualization divides preferences for leisure activities into the following: 1. Take a trip, 2. Revel in memories and catch up on the news (most important), 3. Do something for yourself and come to rest, 4. Play intelligence and parlor games, 5. Make/produce and try something alone or in a group, 6. Keep fit and cheer others on in sports (least important), 7. Learn, educate, and share knowledge, 8. Have contact with other people, 9. Attend at entertainment, cultural, and amusement events, 10. Enjoy music, your homeland, or other countries, 11. Engage in outdoor activities, and 12. Get involved, offer support, and provide companionship. Our results may lead to the development of instruments and thus opens the field for further research and theory building on preferences for leisure activities of people receiving ADS.

Effect of music breathing, a program based on mindful breathing and music listening therapy for promoting sense of coherence in young people: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health have affected people socially, psychologically, and physically. Young people particularly are having to adjust many aspects of their personal lives: including transitions to work, college, and independent living. Personal resources are important in mitigating stress and improve mental well-being during pandemic. Sense of coherence—an orientation to life—could be considered as a personal resource. Currently, a number of interventions have been developed to target the reduction of stress in young people. Little emphasis has been placed on developing sense of coherence to reduce stress and promote mental well-being among young people. Young people consider music as a preferred leisure activity and an important means of stress relief in their daily lives. However, little research concerning music therapy and sense of coherence exists.MethodsIn the proposed randomized controlled trial, a sample of 290 young people (aged 18–30) will be recruited and allocated randomly into one of two groups: the experimental group and the control group. Participants in the experimental group will participate in a 6-week Music Breathing program that will include music listening and mindful breathing guided by a certified music therapist. Participants in the control group will receive a control condition for 6 weeks Mental Health Education Programme. The primary outcome of the study will be measured using Sense of Coherence Scale. The secondary outcomes will be measured using the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, BBC Subjective Well-being scale, and salivary cortisol levels. Repeated measures analysis will be used to compare the outcomes between the two groups.DiscussionThe results will inform practice in coping with stress through promoting sense of coherence. Individuals will benefit from the long-term effect of this intervention to enhance their sense of coherence to cope with stressful events and promote better mental well-being.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05655234. Registered on December 8, 2022.

The influence of specialization and the level of physical activism on leisure options for students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports

Leisure activities, their dynamics in ontogenesis and the way of managing the time allocated to them are a topic that is frequently researched. Purpose: to investigate students' attitudes, aiming at aspects related to forms of leisure, depending on specialization and level of physical activism, by applying a questionnaire. Material and method: The research took place in the academic year 2019-2020, on a number of 180 students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports in Galați. The differences for the pairs of independent specialty variables (PES / physical education and sport and PT / physical therapy), respectively physical activity (HLPA / high level of physical activity, and LLPA / low level of physical activity were analyzed, by applying the techniques of MANOVA and ANOVA calculation. Results: Multivariate analysis indicates significant effects of the physical activity variable on the items of the questionnaire for leisure budget factors, preferred leisure activities, leisure sports activities, and for the specialty variable significant effects are determined only at leisure sports activities, so the level of physical activism will generate more differences between the opinions expressed compared to the specialization of students. Univariate test results indicate significant F values (P <0.05) for a number of items, with weaker values, dominant for PT and LLPA groups. Sports activities and socializing on the internet (defining variant of young people) are at the top, so they do not exclude each other. Conclusion: the students from the PES and HLPA groups stand out through a better organization of free time, high satisfaction of its capitalization, a greater involvement in the variants of active leisure and superior socialization, and those from the PT and LLPA groups allocate more time to watching on TV and using the internet. Keywords: physical activism, specialization, questionnaire, active and passive leisure options, opinions

The Ratio Commitment to Social Activity on the Internet and Physical Space among Young People

Due to large-scale shifts in the development of digital technologies, with the expansion of opportunities and the spread of the Internet environment, activity is increasingly being moved from the physical environment to the Internet environment. In this regard, one of the most important problems is to identify the correlation of activity in the two environments and its reflection in the social identity of young people. The purpose of this study is to analyze the ratio of personal commitment to social activity in the Internet and physical space, taking into account its forms and the depth of ethnic, religious and civic identity. The study involved 199 people aged 17-24 years (M = 20.02; SD = 2.7). Commitment to various forms of social activity in the physical and Internet environment was assessed using scales developed and modified by the authors. Identification with the institution of religion was revealed with the help of specially designed questions about belonging to a confession and the degree of religiosity. Civic identity was determined according to the scale developed by A.N. Tatarko. The certainty of ethnic identity was estimated using the scales by A.N. Tatarko and N.M. Lebedeva. Descriptive statistics methods, correlation and regression analyzes were used for data processing. It was found that commitment to civil, political or friendly activities does not depend on their involvement in a real or virtual environment. Leisure activities are mostly represented in the virtual environment. The certainty and positivity of ethnic identity are associated with pro-social and more acceptable forms of activity for young people, but its uncertainty is associated with protest forms of activity in both environments; civic identity is associated with the most preferred leisure activity in both environments, with volunteer activity and reduced protest activity in the real environment, political activity on the Internet and preference for activity in the Internet space; commitment to religion is associated with corresponding activity and conflicts with the protest, environmental and network ones, which mainly characterize leisure time. Activity in the physical environment is a stronger predictor of civic, ethnic and religious identity than in the Internet environment.

The Meaning of Immersive Virtual Reality From The Perspectives of Older Adults: A Qualitative Analysis

Research Objectives To identify themes of the perspectives of the immersive virtual reality (VR) learning experience, the preferred occupational engagement methods of VR, and if VR provides meaning in one's life. Design Retrospective qualitative data analysis. Setting Senior center in an urban setting. Participants 16 older adults who were senior center members with the ability to travel to the site, no caregiver assistance at the center, and > 17/30 MoCA scoring. Exclusion criteria followed recommendations from the VR user manual. Interventions Meaningful daily activity problems were identified through the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Participants completed eight 30-minute immersive VR sessions. At the beginning of each session, occupational problems were reviewed and the participant selected apps with efforts to address all occupational problems. For example, if the participant identified “international travel," the researchers suggested travel apps. Main Outcome Measures Seven open-ended questions designed to solicit the participants' perspectives and to target the research questions, administered post-programming. Results Exploratory applied thematic analysis was utilized with a constant data comparison approach. Most participants described their VR learning experience positively and as meaningful. Leisure-based applications, opportunities to learn something new, or to contribute to personal wellness, were most preferred. Maximal engagement was attributed to VR experiences that aligned with the participants’ interests and values, with anticipated supportive needs to continue VR use. Conclusions Immersive VR offered participants a safe virtual environment for preferred leisure activities and participants reported that VR allowed them to participate in “exploration without danger.” These findings suggest that a VR protocol with targeted inclusion of meaningful leisure-based and learning-based applications may improve the client experience and possibly enhance neuroplasticity for the older adult when applying VR as an intervention for neurological conditions, informing future research protocols when including older adults as subjects. Author(s) Disclosures Nothing to disclose. To identify themes of the perspectives of the immersive virtual reality (VR) learning experience, the preferred occupational engagement methods of VR, and if VR provides meaning in one's life. Retrospective qualitative data analysis. Senior center in an urban setting. 16 older adults who were senior center members with the ability to travel to the site, no caregiver assistance at the center, and > 17/30 MoCA scoring. Exclusion criteria followed recommendations from the VR user manual. Meaningful daily activity problems were identified through the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Participants completed eight 30-minute immersive VR sessions. At the beginning of each session, occupational problems were reviewed and the participant selected apps with efforts to address all occupational problems. For example, if the participant identified “international travel," the researchers suggested travel apps. Seven open-ended questions designed to solicit the participants' perspectives and to target the research questions, administered post-programming. Exploratory applied thematic analysis was utilized with a constant data comparison approach. Most participants described their VR learning experience positively and as meaningful. Leisure-based applications, opportunities to learn something new, or to contribute to personal wellness, were most preferred. Maximal engagement was attributed to VR experiences that aligned with the participants’ interests and values, with anticipated supportive needs to continue VR use. Immersive VR offered participants a safe virtual environment for preferred leisure activities and participants reported that VR allowed them to participate in “exploration without danger.” These findings suggest that a VR protocol with targeted inclusion of meaningful leisure-based and learning-based applications may improve the client experience and possibly enhance neuroplasticity for the older adult when applying VR as an intervention for neurological conditions, informing future research protocols when including older adults as subjects.

The Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on the Forms of Leisure for the Students at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports.

The study investigates the influences of gender, area of origin and age stage variables and also of the interaction between them, on the free time behavior of the students at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports from Galati. The questionnaire applied in the academic year 2019–2020 had 85 items and was structured on 4 factors: leisure budget, leisure limiting factors, preferred leisure activities, and leisure sports activities. The multivariate/MANOVA analysis showed statistically significant data for some of the analyzed items, with values of F associated with thresholds p < 0.05. The results support longer screen time for urban areas and for those <25 years and time limitation for the favorite activities of students >25 years, while reading had higher stress scores for men and students <25 years. Men tended to limit their free time working overtime and women limited their free time due to housework. Students from rural areas and men >25 years were more stressed by socializing on the internet and shopping. Financial limitations for preferred activities were higher for women and students <25 years—women read more and visited their friends more often while men had higher scores in relation to involvement in physical activities throughout the week, an aspect also reported for those <25 years. Students >25 years spent more time with their family, while those <25 years socialized more on the internet and had better scores when going out with friends. Those in urban areas did more jogging, men had better scores in relation to playing sports games, higher indicators for the satisfaction generated by sports activity, and women preferred jogging and cycling/rollerblading. Sports games and different types of fitness were the most common variants practiced at the level of the studied group. Conclusion: There was no dominant orientation of the investigated group towards forms of passive leisure and there were no cases of sedentariness, even if the use of technologies (video games, socializing on the Internet and TV) were forms of leisure often used by students.

Leisure Time Satisfaction and Activity Preferences Among Ethnically Diverse Aging Parents in Metro Vancouver.

It is well established that family and work-retirement transitions are increasingly becoming more complicated, extended, and reversible among aging parents. Combined with improved life expectancy, older parents are now confronted with new opportunities and challenges including their access to leisure activities. However, a paucity of research exists with regard to the extent to which older-aged parents are satisfied with their amount of leisure time as well as their ideal leisure preferences. Drawing upon socio-cultural life course theory, this paper examines how socio-demographic and ethnocultural variables (i.e., gender, ethnic identity), family-related factors (e.g., presence of children in the household), and socio-economic and work contexts (i.e., income satisfaction and retirement status) shape leisure time satisfaction and activity preferences. Data are drawn from the "Families and Retirement Project," a sample of 588 diverse (British-, Chinese-, Iranian/Persian-, South-Asian Canadians) aged 50 + (mean age = 59.6) residing in Metro Vancouver with at least one young adult child aged 19-35. Quantitative analyses reveal that leisure time satisfaction is higher among: those reporting lower levels of parental stress, the fully retired, those with less education, and among Chinese parents (compared to British). Moreover, strong variations by ethnic background are shown in preferred leisure activity, based on a thematic analysis of data. Results are discussed in terms of contributions to a socio-cultural family life course activity theory. Implications for community service provision (e.g., culturally sensitive and relevant recreational programs and services) are also highlighted, given the salience of participation in enjoyable leisure activities to healthy aging.

Internet Gaming Disorder in adolescence: investigating profiles and associated risk factors

BackgroundElectronic gaming is a popular free-time activity and its deleterious effects have been considered by the American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization. More recently ‘Gaming Disorder’ (GD) has been added to the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, while ‘Internet Gaming Disorder’ (IGD) remains as a tentative disorder in the 5th revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of young gamers at risk for developing IGD.MethodsTo achieve this, a quantitative and nationally representative study was conducted in primary schools in Slovenia with eighth grade as the primary sampling unit (N = 1071, Meanage = 13.44 years, SDage = 0.59). Psychometric testing assessing IGD was conducted to identify participants’ IGD risk levels and to compare ‘high risk gamers’, ‘low risk gamers’, and ‘non-gamers’ in relation to free-time activities, self-control, and parent-child relationship. A one-way ANOVA analysis was conducted with Games-Howell post-hoc test to compare the three groups of participants. Statistically significant IGD factors were then included in a multinomial logistic regression analysis to identify the most relevant predictors of IGD.ResultsAbout 4.7% (n = 48) [95% CI: 3.4–6.0%] of Slovenian adolescents were found to be ‘high risk gamers’ when considering risk of IGD. These were mostly males (n = 42, 87.5%), and their preferred leisure activities involved more screen time activities (e.g., watching TV, playing video games, using social media). Moreover, ‘high risk gamers’ showed significantly lower levels of self-control compared to ‘low risk gamers’, and poorer understanding with their parents. Perceived satisfaction with life and mental health did not differ significantly between the three groups. The multinomial logistic regression identified four key predictors of IGD: male gender, gaming as a frequent free-time activity, attending music school or a choir and self-control.ConclusionPublic health measures should target adolescents at increased risk of developing IGD in early age because they are particularly drawn to excessive gaming behaviors and present greater IGD vulnerability.

The COVID-19 school closure effect on students’ print and digital leisure reading

Adopting an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, this study examined Singaporean primary school students’ changes in reading enjoyment, reading amount, and their access to resources in print and digital formats during the COVID-19 school closure. Survey data showed reading was a more preferred leisure activity during the school closure. Students’ reading enjoyment prior to the closure was positively correlated with changes in their reading enjoyment and reading amount during the closure, for both print and digital formats. Despite the ubiquity of devices, devices were underutilised for reading purposes. Students demonstrated a clear preference for print reading over reading digitally both before and during the school closure and relied more on home than online resources for reading materials. Changes in time spent on devices during school closure were not related to changes in digital reading amount, but negatively related to changes in reading enjoyment and print reading amount over the same period, suggesting more time on devices may not naturally lead to more reading digitally. Qualitative results revealed several challenges students faced with reading digitally. While students were digital natives in terms of using technology for entertainment purposes, they had difficulty locating digital reading materials as few students were socialised into using technology for reading. When it comes to reading, we propose that primary school students are print natives who are generally more familiar with reading in print and prefer print. Some inherent limitations of digital reading that restrict continuous reading (e.g., eye strain, reliance on power supply, cumbersome navigability) may prevent students from embracing the new form of reading.

REVIEW ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF TENNIS DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA

This paper attempts to review the development of tennis in Malaysia and efforts made by its national governing body, Tennis Malaysia and to discuss on the development of tennis in Malaysia through the successful mode of tennis development strategy, and analyzes the successful mode of tennis development strategy in its planning and implementation. Tennis is competing with other sports in attracting the youth to take up the sport as one of their preferred leisure activities. Tennis Malaysia also engages in Junior Development activities to bring junior tennis players up the learning curve and be more competitive. Elite athlete development is the result of a combination of elite sport policies, athlete development pathways and interactions between various stakeholders that are involved in the delivery of athlete development pathways. These factors make elite athlete development a complex, multi-layered and multi-faceted field of study that necessitates specific research efforts that focus on how these factors contribute to elite athlete development in specific sports. Tennis Malaysia and its affiliates have endeavored to raise the standard of the sport in the past few years and have been relatively successful in achieving their objectives although there is much scope for improvement. The national body will continue to implement and improve its approach in developing tennis in Malaysia and will conduct some capacity building activities towards achieving excellence for tennis to continue to grow in all aspects.

Profiling the Reading Habits of Children in Singapore

The leisure reading contributes significantly in improving language competencies of children. This study investigates the reading habits and preferences of children, motivations behind reading, and their attitude towards reading. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for collecting data and 440 upper primary students participated in the study. The findings suggest that a majority of the participating students were motivated to read for academically-related reasons, such as to improve language skills and to obtain better grades in examinations. Reading was the third most preferred leisure activity after hobbies and playing on computer or the Internet. It was also found that girls were generally more avid readers than boys. This paper offers certain suggestions for promoting reading habits among children.

ДОСУГ В СТРУКТУРЕ ЖИЗНЕСПОСОБНОСТИ ДВУХ ПОКОЛЕНИЙ МОСКВИЧЕЙ

The article is devoted to comparing the preferred leisure activity of the two age groups of Muscovites and to identifying the connection of these preferences with other socio-psychological parameters of their viability. The sample consisted of 258 respondents with two age groups: 158 aged 18-35 and 100 aged 61-84. Methods were used: value orientations, author’s questionnaires of preferences for leisure activity, social responsibility, evaluation of positive and negative perception of urban environment, «scale of urban identity» M. Lalli. It is found that leisure choices are characterized by entertainment in both groups, but its cultural and educational appearance – visiting exhibitions, museums, theatres – is more characteristic of the older generation. Young people are more likely to engage in leisure activities such as cafés, bars, restaurants, shopping and extreme entertainment, which are related to the stress of the city. The role of positive perception of the city – city holidays, etc. - in the choice of leisure activities is noted. A lack of internal responsibility among young people may be related both to a lack of time, to a general hedonic focus of leisure, and to a lack of confidence in their ability to influence urban solutions.

Television Viewing and Cognitive Dysfunction of Korean Older Adults.

This study examined the association between television (TV) viewing and cognitive dysfunction in elderly Koreans. Among participants of the 2014 National Survey of Older Koreans, 9644 were considered in this study. To better identify the association between two factors, propensity score (PS) matching with exact method was used. Finally, 168 viewers and non-viewers each were selected based on estimated PS on key variables and eliminating double matches. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed when controlling for possible covariates. Viewers were more likely to have cognitive dysfunction than non-viewers, with significant differences in most covariates. After correcting confounding effects of these covariates with PS matching, TV viewing was found to be a significant risk factor of cognitive dysfunction, along with absence of diagnosed hypertension and non-participation in physical leisure activities. TV viewing might be associated with increased risk of cognitive dysfunction in later life. Appropriate education and strategies to minimize TV viewing among older adults should be established to contribute to attenuating cognitive aging. More interventional studies can help older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals explore the cognitively beneficial alternatives to TV use considering the impact of socioeconomic factors of selecting TV viewing as a preferred leisure activity.

Fans identification: the bright side of football sponsorship effectiveness

ABSTRACT Football events are by far one of the most preferred leisure activities amongst fans around the world, namely when it involves their favorite team. The measurement of sponsorship results is seen as a research priority, however, some results found are not consistent, in which mediation is seen as a research priority. This research intends to: (i) determine fan identification effect on perceived congruency between sponsor and sponsored team, and on intentions towards buying sponsor’s products, and; (ii) determine the mediation role of perceived congruence. In total, 1399 fans from a top three Portuguese professional football team were considered for analysis. For statistical analysis, Structural Equation Modeling was used. Results show that higher levels of fans’ team identification lead to higher intention to buy sponsor’s products, and the most innovative result was the relevant mediating role of the perceived congruence in the formation of the purchase intention on sponsor’s products.

Leisure Activity Preferences of Children and Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy in Iran and the Quality of Their Participation

Objectives: To investigate whether Iranian children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) participate in their preferred leisure activities. Methods: A group of children and adolescents (n=152; 59.2% male; aged 7-17 years; Mean±SD of age was 10.93±3.46 years old) diagnosed with CP (39.5% hemiplegic; 28.9% quadriplegic; 31.6% diplegic) were selected to complete the children’s assessment of participation and the enjoyment (CAPE) and Preference for Activities of Children (PAC) questionnaires. Results: Recreational and social activities were the most preferred (PAC mean score=2.13±0.40; 2.08±0.40, respectively), and active-physical activities were the least preferred (PAC mean score=1.60±0.46). Preferences were strongly correlated with leisure participation (P&lt;0.001), although there were still discrepancies between them. A discrepancy score was introduced, and skill-based activities demonstrated the highest discrepancy score (discrepancy mean score=3.39±2.97). Discussion: Greater preferences for leisure activities are linked with a higher frequency of participation but, that does not necessarily mean that children and adolescents with CP always participate in their most preferred leisure activities. They sometimes cannot participate in their preferred leisure activities and sometimes participate in activities that they do not like. Occupational therapists are encouraged to consider these findings to design more effective plans to achieve improved participation outcomes.

Impact of video-games on academic performance and sleep duration in medical students

Introduction: Video-gaming has become one of the most preferred leisure activities among adolescents, with prevalence rate being as high as 75% in some of the industrialized countries. Video games provide a ‘virtual world’ where the gamer can seek challenges and thrills in a safe way and fulfill his need for adventure and excitement. The popularity of video-games has raised concern over their possible impact on the physical, mental and emotional well being of an individual. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of video-games on academic performance and sleep duration in medical students. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in GIMS, Gadag, after being cleared by the Ethical committee. Fifty healthy male medical students who regularly played video-games acted as subjects, and fifty age and gender matched students were controls. Information related to duration of video-gaming, sleep duration and academic performance was assessed using comprehensive questionnaire. Comparison between the groups was done using students t-test. Correlation between duration of videogaming with academic performance and sleep duration in the subjects was assessed using Pearson’s correlation. Effect size was calculated. Results: In students, who regularly played video games, the academic performance was less and the duration of sleep was more, when compared to the students who didn’t play videogames. The difference was statistically significant (P Conclusion: Video-games have a negative effect on academic performance in medical students, and they also seem to increase the duration and requirement of sleep. Keywords: Video-games, Academic performance, Sleep duration.

Success in books: predicting book sales before publication

Reading remains a preferred leisure activity fueling an exceptionally competitive publishing market: among more than three million books published each year, only a tiny fraction are read widely. It is largely unpredictable, however, which book will that be, and how many copies it will sell. Here we aim to unveil the features that affect the success of books by predicting a book’s sales prior to its publication. We do so by employing the Learning to Place machine learning approach, that can predicts sales for both fiction and nonfiction books as well as explaining the predictions by comparing and contrasting each book with similar ones. We analyze features contributing to the success of a book by feature importance analysis, finding that a strong driving factor of book sales across all genres is the publishing house. We also uncover differences between genres: for thrillers and mystery, the publishing history of an author (as measured by previous book sales) is highly important, while in literary fiction and religion, the author’s visibility plays a more central role. These observations provide insights into the driving forces behind success within the current publishing industry, as well as how individuals choose what books to read.

Leisure Performance and Leisure Satisfaction by Preference Leisure Performance in the Elderly: Comparison between Young-old and Old-old

본 연구는 노인을 전기노인과 후기노인으로 구분하고 선호하는 여가의 수행여부에 따른 여가만족도와 여가수행도의 차이를 비교분석하는데 목적이 있다. 분석을 위해 국민연금연구원의 제 6차 국민노후보장패널조사(KReIS) 부가조사 데이터를 이용하였다. 최종 분석 대상자는 전기노인 2,212명, 후기노인 1,985명으로 총 4,197명의 데이터를 분석하였으며 그 결과, 전기노인(6.83시간/7.39시간)에 비해 후기노인(7.64시간/7.81시간)의 주중 및 주말 여가시간이 증가하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 또한 참여하고 있는 여가활동유형은 전기노인과 후기노인에서 요일에 관계없이 휴식활동이 80%이상(TV 시청 및 라디오듣기 70% 이상)을 차지하였다. 선호여가 수행여부에 따른 여가수행도와 여가만족도 결과, 주중의 경우 선호하는 여가를 수행하고 있지 않은 후기노인의 여가수행도가 더 높았고, 주말의 경우에는 선호여가 수행여부와 관계없이 후기노인의 여가수행도가 높았다. 여가수행도의 경우에는 전기노인과 후기노인에서 수행도가 매우 높게 나타났으며, 여가만족도의 경우, 전기노인과 후기노인에서 모두 보통으로 응답하였고 전기노인의 여가만족도가 유의미하게 높았다. 여가변화요구도의 경우 선호여가 수행여부나 요일에 관계없이 전기노인의 여가변화요구도가 유의미하게 높게 나타났지만 두 집단의 응답 점수는 변화하고 싶지 않음에 가까웠다. 이러한 연구결과를 바탕으로 전기노인과 후기노인의 여가만족을 향상시키고 여가수행을 지속하기 위한 여가제약요인을 고려한 프로그램 개발 및 건강관리제도 도입과 같은 실천적인 움직임이 이어야 할 것이다. 또한 전기노인과 후기노인의 여가활동 현황이나 유형분석에서 더 나아가 여가참여에 영향을 주는 주관적 요소 등의 질적인 측면을 고려한 체계적인 조사척도 연구의 필요성을 강조하고자 한다.The purpose of this study is to analyze leisure satisfaction and leisure performance according to whether elderly people are performing their preferred leisure activities. For the analysis, we used sample from the 6th (2015) panal data as Korean Retirement and Income Study(KReIS). The results of this study were as follows. First, the total data of 4,197 elderly (2,212 young-old and 1,985 old-old) were analyzed. As a result, weekday and weekend leisure time of the old-old (7.64 hours / 7.81 hours) than the young-old (6.83 hour / 7.39 hour) was increased and resting activites (over 70% of watching TV and listening to the radio) accounted for more than 80% of the both elderly leisure activities. Leisure performance were higher in old-old who did not perform preferred leisure activities during weekdays. Leisure performance on weekends was higher in old-old regardless of whether they had preferred leisure time. Average of leisure performance was high in both groups and they responded leisure satisfaction was moderate. In the case of need for leisure change, young-old was higher than oid-old regardless of preference leisure performance and day of the week. However, the responses of the both groups are closed to those that do not want to change. Based on the results of this study, it should be practiced such as develomenting program and introduction of health management system considering leisure constraints to improve leisure satisfaction and continuance of leisure activities for young-old and old-old. We also emphasize the need for a systematic survey scale that takes into account the qualitative aspects of leisure activities as well as the subjective factors influencing leisure participation.