The importance of self-management in the leisure activities of young people

ABSTRACT

This report addresses the proposition that young people's self-management of peer group leisure activities results in higher levels of satisfaction with them and makes them more meaningful and impactful. This study collected information in a self-administered questionnaire about the type of leisure spaces and management strategies used by young people aged 16–18 years old and addressed issues related to school time and free time. The sample under study was comprised of students in public, subsizised, and private schools in Northern Spain. The primary purposes of this study were thus to determine where, in which activities, organizational responsibility was taken and whether doing so contributed to the meaning and value of the experience. Analysis of variance and correlational analysis of survey results established that assuming responsibility for the organization of an activity is associated with greater enjoyment and activity satisfaction among young people, as well as making the activity more important in their lives. The greatest implication for the provision of activities at this period of adolescence and youth is that participants be afforded the opportunity for self-management.

Resumen

Este estudio propone que la autogestión de las actividades de ocio por parte de los jóvenes en su grupo de iguales da lugar a mayores niveles de satisfacción y las hace más significativas e impactantes. Así pues, los objetivos de este estudio han sido (a) identificar las actividades de ocio, en su grupo de iguales, más importantes para los participantes; (b) analizar si determinados tipos de actividades de ocio entre iguales presentan diferentes niveles de responsabilidad; (c) analizar si determinados tipos de actividades de ocio entre iguales son más satisfactorias, agradables y/o significativas que otras; y finalmente, (d) determinar si asumir la responsabilidad de la gestión y organización de las actividades otorga mayores niveles de satisfacción, disfrute e importancia. Este estudio recoge información sobre el tipo de espacios de ocio utilizados y los modelos de gestión en los mismos; se recogieron los datos, a través de un cuestionario autoadministrado, entre jóvenes de 16 a 18 años que abordaron temas relacionados con el tiempo escolar y el tiempo libre. El grupo objeto de estudio estaba formado por estudiantes que cursaban estudios en centros públicos, concertados y privados de España como continuación de la enseñanza obligatoria.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth leisure
• experience
• participation
• leisure
• satisfaction

PALABRAS CLAVE:

• ocio juvenil
• experiencia
• participación
• ocio
• satisfacción

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 While much of development in the early years is biologically driven, culture plays an increasingly larger role in constructing it socially. In our generalizations, we are thus speaking here primarily about Western culture settings. Further research on the subject should be expanded to other cultural contexts.