Youth, Leisure and Lifestyles

Abstract

This paper reports findings from a questionnaire survey of 744 students at the University of Coimbra. Perhaps surprisingly, the majority reported that they had no more than an hour per day completely free for leisure activities: their time was mostly obligated. Much of their leisure, in practice, took the form of socialising within daily routines. In addition, most of the students went to pubs, discos or cafes at least once a week. Most sports-related leisure happened at the students' homes, and comprised consuming rather than ‘doing’ sport. Although 43 percent reported some daily physical activity, only 25 percent did that for at least an hour each day. Municipal sports facilities were rarely used. Class and gender differences are noted, but across all social groups the main motive for taking part in sport (which appeared to be an unfulfilled majority wish) was to maintain a healthy self-image which is perhaps a manifestation of an obsession with the self said by some to be a feature of present-day societies.