Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Adolescent Development
• Mental Health Research

Context:

• Adolescent leisure time is crucial for psychological well-being and psychosocial development.
• Leisure activities may offer a protective effect against suicidality in young individuals.
• Understanding the relationship between leisure engagement and suicidal ideation is vital for mental health interventions.

Purpose:

• To investigate the association between adolescents' leisure time patterns and suicidality.
• To differentiate the impact of general leisure aspects versus specific activities on suicidal ideation.
• To identify specific leisure activities that may mitigate or exacerbate suicidality in adolescents.

Summary:

• Adolescents spending leisure time alone reported higher suicidality compared to those engaging in activities with others.
• General leisure aspects and sports activities showed a significant relationship with suicidality.
• Shared leisure activities with others demonstrated the strongest association with reduced suicidality.

Impact:

• Leisure time activities, particularly social engagement, can serve as a potential preventive measure against adolescent suicidality.
• Findings suggest encouraging social leisure activities to support adolescent mental health and reduce suicide risk.
• This research provides a basis for developing targeted interventions promoting beneficial leisure engagement for at-risk youth.