How Is Leisure Related to Wellbeing and to Substance Use? The Probable Key Role of Autonomy and Supervision

Gina Tomé; Fábio Botelho Guedes; Ana Cerqueira; Catarina Noronha; Joaquim Castro de Freitas; Teresa Freire; Margarida Gaspar de Matos

doi:10.3390/children10050773

How Is Leisure Related to Wellbeing and to Substance Use? The Probable Key Role of Autonomy and Supervision

Children (Basel). 2023 Apr 25;10(5):773. doi: 10.3390/children10050773.

Authors

Gina Tomé^{1

2}, Fábio Botelho Guedes^{1

2}, Ana Cerqueira^{1

2}, Catarina Noronha¹, Joaquim Castro de Freitas³, Teresa Freire⁴, Margarida Gaspar de Matos^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environmental Health (ISAMB), Aventura Social, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon (FMUL), 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal.
² Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon (FMH-UL), 1495-751 Lisbon, Portugal.
³ Rede de Informação aos Jovens-Eurodesk Portugal, 4715-558 Braga, Portugal.
⁴ School of Psychology, Psychology Research Centre, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
⁵ APPSYci-Applied Psychology Research Center Capabilities & Inclusion, ISPA-University Institute, 1100-304 Lisbon, Portugal.

Abstract

The present research is based on a large and representative national survey and intends to analyse the correlation of several leisure activities with risk, and with health and well-being outcomes. This work is part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, a collaborative WHO international study that aims to explore the school-aged children behaviour regarding health and risk behaviours in their life contexts. Participants were 8215 Portuguese adolescents, randomly chosen from those attending the 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades in 2018. The sample included 52.7% of girls and the mean age was 14.36 years old. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed (ANOVAS and Chi-Square). The results of the present study suggested that several leisure activities, namely sports and social engagement activities (politic involvement and participation, religious activities, scouting and volunteer work), are associated with the adolescents' well-being and life satisfaction. However, these types of activities can also be associated with an increase in substance use. However, some activities are also associated with risky behaviour. Identifying activities that promote well-being in young people can be important for professionals, families and public policies.

Keywords: adolescents; adult monitoring; autonomy; leisure activities; peer pressure; substance use; well-being.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding. Fábio Botelho Guedes has a scholarship from the Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/148299/2019). Ana Cerqueira has a scholarship from the Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/148403/2019). Teresa Freire—The study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (UIDB/PSI/01662/2020).