Leisure activities of adolescent school students: predictors of participation and interest

Frequency of participation and levels of interest in more than 60 leisure pursuits were measured via a questionnaire administered to 1248 adolescent high school students. The relationship between participation and levels of interest was measured by correlation as well as by asking the students to nominate up to three activities they would like to participate in but cannot and to indicate the reason for their non-participation. Factor analyses reduced the Participation and Interest items to six factors each. Multiple regressions were then conducted on the derived factor-score variables. Sex was the major predictor of participation in sports and vocational activities and of interest in sporting and gregarious activities. Age, school location, ethnicity and SES were lesser predictors for groups of activities such as the social and outdoor pursuits. The results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and practical implications of the relationship between participation and interest as well as the prediction of participation and interest levels by developmental and social factors.