Leisure behaviour of Austrian adolescents and ist impact on health - a quantitative study to identify areas for action
Publisher
Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu
ISSN
0212-6567
Date Issued
2013-05-23
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Sociedad Española de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria
Abstract
Introduction: In the leisure sector our society is confronted with permanent changes. Actual challenges are forcing voluntary activities, handling with new types of media and using free time wisely. According to the Social Model of Health by Dahlgren and Whitehead (1991) leisure-time activities have an important influence on adolescent health.
Objectives: The aim of the empirical study was to quantitatively analyse leisure-time activites of youngsters comprehensively (e.g. influencing factors, motives, health consequences, satisfaction).
Methods: In 2012 the FH Burgenland carried out a standardized online survey concerning leisure behaviour of young Austrians between the age of 11 and 17 (n = 461). The questionnaire was distributed among adolescents by virtual social networks.
Results: Favourite activities of Austrian adolescents are listening to music, surfing the internet and meeting friends. Sex, age and relationship with parents strongly correlate with choice of hobbies. Some activites like doing sports have a positive influence while others like playing computer games have a negative influence on self-reported health. 32% of adolescents are dissatisfied with their leisure time. Reasons are little free time as well as missing sense of purpose and little social contacts.
Conclusions: Austrian adolescents wish to have more leisure opportunities, meeting-points and less school stress. Possible actions are establishing leisure-time facilities and youth clubs. The results of this study could be used for further research concerning developing political suggestions.
Keywords: leisure-time, adolescent health, sense of purpose
Objectives: The aim of the empirical study was to quantitatively analyse leisure-time activites of youngsters comprehensively (e.g. influencing factors, motives, health consequences, satisfaction).
Methods: In 2012 the FH Burgenland carried out a standardized online survey concerning leisure behaviour of young Austrians between the age of 11 and 17 (n = 461). The questionnaire was distributed among adolescents by virtual social networks.
Results: Favourite activities of Austrian adolescents are listening to music, surfing the internet and meeting friends. Sex, age and relationship with parents strongly correlate with choice of hobbies. Some activites like doing sports have a positive influence while others like playing computer games have a negative influence on self-reported health. 32% of adolescents are dissatisfied with their leisure time. Reasons are little free time as well as missing sense of purpose and little social contacts.
Conclusions: Austrian adolescents wish to have more leisure opportunities, meeting-points and less school stress. Possible actions are establishing leisure-time facilities and youth clubs. The results of this study could be used for further research concerning developing political suggestions.
Keywords: leisure-time, adolescent health, sense of purpose
Subjects
Österreichische Systematik der Wissenschaftszweige 2012::Humanmedizin, Gesundheitswissenschaften::Gesundheitswissenschaften
Österreichische Systematik der Wissenschaftszweige 2012::Sozialwissenschaften
Type
Konferenzbeitrag