Leisure boredom, leisure challenge, smartphone use, and emotional distress among U.S. college students: are they interrelated?

ABSTRACT

Previous leisure researchers have investigated the effects of leisure boredom and leisure challenges on smartphone use and related health outcomes. In this study, we aimed to determine how these related constructs are associated with emotional distress (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress) among college students. A convenience sample of 601 college students completed online surveys. The results show that leisure boredom was positively related to smartphone use and emotional distress, leisure challenge was negatively related to smartphone use and emotional distress, and smartphone use was negatively related to emotional distress. This study suggests that experiencing leisure boredom may be a contributing factor to college students’ excessive smartphone use and emotional distress (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress), while leisure challenge may reduce their smartphone use and emotional distress.

KEYWORDS:

• Leisure boredom
• leisure challenge
• smartphone use
• emotional distress
• health outcomes

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Namyun Kil

Namyun Kil is an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. His research interests are in health and wellbeing benefits for diverse individuals with and without physical and mental disabilities.

Junhyoung Kim

Junhyoung Kim is an assistant professor in the School of Public Health at Indiana University. His research seeks to identify the value of leisure activities as stress coping mechanisms among diverse groups such as immigrants, older adults, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Jaesung Park

Jaesung Park is an assistant professor in the School of Health Professions and Education at Utica College. His research seeks to identify the effects of adapted physical activities on physical and psychological quality of life of older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Chungsup Lee

Chungsup Lee is an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the California State University Long Beach. His research centres upon leisure, disability, older adults, and health and wellbeing. Further, he is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) designing and serving recreation therapy programmes for individuals of all abilities.