Preference for leisure activities among adolescents in southern Brazil: What changed after a decade?

Abstract

The preference for a specic activity during leisure time can directly influence its practice, both for active and sedentary behaviors. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify changes after a decade in the preference for leisure activities according to gender and age group between two generations of adolescents from southern Brazil. It was a repeated cross-sectional study (2001–2011). Representative samples of high school students (aged 15–19 years) from public schools in the state of Santa Catarina were evaluated in 2001 (n = 5028) and 2011 (n = 6529). Students answered one question on the preferred leisure activity, organized into six groups of activities. Comparisons between surveys were based on the relative frequency and 95% condence intervals (95% CI). After a decade, there were signicant reductions (95% CI did not overlap) in the preference for practicing physical activities, cultural activities and other activities, while the preference for watching TV, playing video games and using computer increased over time. These trends were similar between boys and girls and between younger (15–16 years-old) and older (17–19 years-old) students. The magnitude of changes was bigger in the proportion of preference for using computer and for practicing physical activities. There was an increase in the preference for leisure activities that involve screen time use, but the preference for other leisure activities (e.g., physical and cultural activities) reduced after a decade. Reasons underlying the change in leisure preferences need to be examined to support future interventions.