The study seeks to find out students' and library staff's perceptions and experiences of the popular fiction collection at the University of the Free State's Sasol Library. The purpose of the study is to examine what these perceptions and experiences mean for the future expansion and development of the leisure collection. The Social Learning Theory guided the study. The study adopted a qualitative and quantitative approach whereby open- and close-ended questionnaires were distributed online to students and to library staff to gather research data. The population that participated in the study comprised undergraduate and postgraduate students and library staff. The study employed stratified random sampling as a research technique. The targeted population comprised 37,800 registered students and 61 library staff members accidentally sampled. This in turn gave sample sizes of 381 for students and 53 for library staff. Quantitative data was analysed using Google Forms and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Further, qualitative data was analysed thematically through content analysis. The study found that students enjoy reading popular fiction at the Sasol Library's fiction collection for leisure. The study also found that library staff support the existence of the leisure reading collection, even though a small number felt that its operations could be improved. The study therefore recommends that the university direct resources towards the expansion and improvement of the popular collection through the training of staff and stocking of reading genres that the students require.

This study aims to focus on children’s perspectives of the relationship with leisure-time teachers. It aims to show the relationships significance and how the relationships are created and maintained. Semi structured group interviews with 25 children aged 8-9 years on leisure- time centers were conducted. Their stories have been analyzed from a relational perspective. The results show that for a child, a leisure-time teacher can be anything from an adult in the background who maintains order and security in the environment, to an adult who stands relationally close. The children highlight the importance of leisure-time teachers' inclination to care for the child. The leisure-time teachers’ concern can be presented in different ways and children notice if it is genuine. The children's stories are an admonition to today’s leisure- time teachers to reduce the negative interactions that includes reprimands and anger, and to take the time to listen and take the children seriously.

The content of the thesis is an architectural study, which proposes a new use of the grounds of the VUT area on Kraví hora. The aim was to combine the interests of VUT and the City of Brno in this extraordinary territory for the benefit of both subjects. The study addresses not only the VUT land, but also the whole area of Kraví hora, which is one of the unique green spaces in the center of Brno. The High School of Technology at Kraví Hora is one of the most valuable areas of the city of Brno. Just like the rest of Kravi hora. But we are talking about a territory that is scattered over several sub-sections. The biggest problem of the whole mountain is impenetrability and lack of solidarity. Kraví hora is a place that has served history, relaxation, afternoon activities and family trips. Today, it is mainly used as a gardening colony - the private sector. From another part there are spaces that are leased to different companies and private owners. However, the use of these spaces, in most cases, does not correspond to the character that has long since existed. Another problem is poor transport accessibility, low capacity of parking spaces and large distances from the area to public transport stops. In the interest of the City of Brno, cultivation of the Kraví hora as urban green space and the creation of a whole green park, which will serve primarily the public.

This master’s thesis focuses on the reconstruction and new making use of Moravský Krumlov Chateau. The chateau’s premises include multi-purpose halls, leisure centres for the city’s inhabitants, a hotel and exhibition showrooms for tourists. The main idea was to design a “Chateau for the City”, that is to reconstruct the isolated chateau so that it meets the practical needs of the inhabitants of Moravský Krumlov. The new constructions of geometric shapes are designed to impress and, at the same time, reflect the needs of the operation of the chateau complex.

The thesis aims petition leisure center in České Budějovice. The building will be used for education and sports activities citizens. Clients use the services of a cafe with gallery, multifunctional rooms, library and teaching space, the center also includes facilities for staff. The building is designed as a three-storey with a partial basement.

Little is known about leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) habits of Arab immigrants in Canada. Leisure-time physical activity has been linked to decreased risks for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all causes mortality and increased life expectancy. Socioeconomic status has been recognized as a significant factor affecting health and wellbeing due to its impact on individuals’ attitudes, experiences, and exposure to several risk factors. The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to explore the levels of participation in LTPA among adult Arab immigrants in central Alberta, Canada, to examine the socioeconomic determinants of LTPA, and to investigate which individual, social, and environmental factors contribute to LTPA participation. Electronic surveys were used to collect data from a sample of 376 adults. The socioecological model and systems theory were used as the theoretical foundations to guide this research. Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were performed using SPSS. Around 40% of participants were physically active. As participants attained higher degrees, earned more money, and had occupations requiring less physical effort, their levels of LTPA increased. The social conditions in which the participants live also affected their levels of LTPA. Being more familiar with the health benefits and having fewer barriers to exercise predicted an increase in LTPA, whereas higher self-efficacy seemed to predict a decrease in LTPA. Family and friends’ support for exercise increased the levels of LTPA of participants. And finally, more environmental support for exercise predicted a decrease in LTPA levels among participants. Findings from this research have the potential to design and implement targeted LTPA recommendations and interventions for Arab immigrants.

Ce travail de thèse propose d’interroger la place des loisirs de chasse, de pêche, de cueillette et d’observation naturaliste dans la préservation des espaces naturels de l’estuaire de la Seine. Le cadre conceptuel s’appuie sur la sociologie du loisir nord-américaine pour traiter ces activités selon la Perspective des Loisirs Sérieux. À travers une méthodologie qui mêle l’ethnographie, l’entretien récit de vie et le questionnaire, ces loisirs sont présentés comme le support de conflits mais aussi d’engagements, liés à l’étude, à la gestion et à la valorisation de la nature. L’analyse lie l’immersion dans l’environnement et la pratique de la prédation avec la construction de convictions écologiques d’ordre sociopolitique. La mise en cohérence de ces convictions est assurée par des passeurs qui font usage du loisir comme d’un outil de transaction sociale : il est un support de communication utilisé pour mettre en réseau les différents acteurs institutionnels et associatifs qui s’investissent dans la préservation de la nature. / This thesis proposes to question hunters, anglers, gatherers and wildlife watchers as part of the network which preserve the natural spaces around the river Seine estuary. The conceptual framework is based on North American sociology of leisure. These activities are considered according to the Serious Leisure Perspective. Through a methodology that combines ethnography, interviews and survey, these activities are described as support for volunteering.The analysis links the practice of predation with ecological convictions. Leisure is also used as a communication medium and help creating a consistent network to preserve nature.

Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka arbetsterapeuters erfarenheter av att arbeta med fritidsaktiviteter för barn och ungdomar som lever med funktionsnedsättningar inom barn- och ungdomspsykiatrin och habiliteringen. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en kvalitativ intervjustudie. Sju semistrukturerade intervjuer utfördes via telefon och Skype med yrkesverksamma arbetsterapeuter med erfarenheter av att arbeta med barn och ungdomar med funktionsnedsättningar inom barn- och ungdomshabiliteringen (HAB) samt barn- och ungdomspsykiatrin (BUP). Vid analys av intervjuerna användes en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Det framgick i resultatet att fritidsaktiviteter inte är prioriterat enligt vårdriktlinjer och att det även fanns andra hindrande faktorer som begränsar arbetsterapeuterna att arbeta med fritidsaktiviteter. Det framgick även att det fanns stöttande faktorer som gör det möjligt för arbetsterapeuterna att hitta lösningar på hur de kan arbeta med fritidsaktiviteter och att de upplever att det har positiv påverkan på klienterna som väger över de annars negativa konsekvenser som kan uppstå vid brist av en meningsfull fritid. Resultatet visar att arbetsterapeuterna inkluderar fritidsaktiviteter vid kartläggningen, ger tips och råd kring fritidsaktiviteter samt har möjlighet att sätta in interventioner som kan gynna både vardagliga aktiviteter och fritidsaktiviteter. Arbetsterapeuterna upplever att klientens efterfrågan av hjälp varierar beroende på vilken diagnos klienten har. Slutsats: Arbetsterapeuterna som arbetade med fritidsaktiviteter upplevde att det hade en positiv effekt för barn- och ungdomar med funktionsnedsättning. Fritidsaktiviteter är ett område som bör inkluderas mer i arbetsterapin eftersom det främjar självständighet och delaktighet i vården men även i klienternas liv. Arbetsterapeuter besitter den kunskap som behövs för att arbeta och anpassa fritidsaktiviteter i olika miljöer och behov. / Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine occupational therapists' experience of working with leisure activities for children and adolescents who live with functional impairments in pediatric facilities in Sweden. Method: The study was conducted with a qualitative data collection method with semi-instructed interviews through phone or skype with seven occupational therapists with experience and that are working in a pediatric facility with children and adolescents who live with functional impairments. In the analysis of the interviews a qualitative content analysis was used. Result: The results showed that leisure activities are not a prioritization according to health guidelines and that there are also other factors that prevent occupational therapists from working with leisure activities. It also appears that there are supporting factors that enable occupational therapists to find solutions of how they can work with leisure activities and that their experience is that leisure activities have a positive impact on clients weighing over the otherwise negative consequences that can arise from lack of meaningful leisure. The result showed that occupational therapists include leisure activities in information gathering, provide tips and advice and have the opportunity to use intervention that benefit both activities of daily living and leisure activities. The occupational therapists find that the clients demand for help vary depending on the diagnosis the client has. Conclusion: The Occupational therapists that are working with leisure activities experience that they have a positive effect on children and adolescents with functional impairments. And that is a topic that should be included more in occupational therapy because it promotes independence and participation in care but also in the client’s life. Occupational therapists possess the knowledge needed to be able to work and adapt leisure activities in different environments and needs.

Syftet med studien var att synliggöra och beskriva fritidslärares olika föreställningar om samverkan med vårdnadshavare i fritidshemmet. Utifrån en fenomenografisk ansats har sju intervjuer genomförts med fritidslärare från olika skolor. I studien beskrivs även tidigare forskning kring samverkan med vårdnadshavare i skolan. Informanternas utsagor är sammanställda utifrån en fenomenografisk analysmetod där olika beskrivningskategorier framkommit. Tre analysmodeller visar de olika kategorierna, en för varför samverkan sker, en för övergripande uppfattningar om samverkan och en för uppfattningar om utmaningar vid samverkan. Resultatet visar att huvudkategorin i första modellen är olika avsikter där det framkommit att samverkan sker antingen för att få en helhet mellan skola, fritids och hem eller för särskilda avsikter exempelvis då det finns någon typ av problematik kring en elev, huvudkategorin i andra modellen är relationer där uppfattningarna om vikten av goda relationer är de vanligaste bland informanterna. I tredje modellen finns nio kategorier där kategorierna språk och rädsla är de vanligaste uppfattningarna om utmaningar bland informanterna. Den teoretiska kopplingen i studien berör Jonas Aspelins teori om relationskompetens. / The purpose of the study was to make visible and describe school-age educare teachers' different notions of collaboration with parents in the leisure center. Based on a phenomenographic approach, seven interviews were conducted with leisure teachers from different schools. The study also describes previous research on collaboration with parents in the school. The informants' statements are compiled on the basis of a phenomenographic method of analysis in which various categories of description have emerged. Three models of analysis show the different categories, one for why collaboration occurs, onefor overall perceptions of collaboration and one for perceptions of challenges in collaboration. The result shows that the main category in the first model is different intentions where it has emerged that collaboration takes place either to get a completeness between school, leisure and home or for special intentions, for example when there is some kind of problem about a student. The main categories in the second model are relationships, where perceptions of the importance of good relationships are the most common among informants. In the third model, there are nine categories where the categories language and fear are the most common perceptions of informant challenges. The theoretical link in the study concerns Jonas Aspelin´s theory of relational competence.

The objective of the present study was to give a detailed overview on the leisure behavior of adolescents (frequency, differences between gender, age groups and social class, time trends, and inter-relations). In total, 1449 10- to 18-year-old German adolescents were included in the study. Participants answered questionnaires about their media use, physical activity, outdoor time, engagement in choir/orchestra and theater/dancing, social life and socio-economic status (SES). The results revealed that girls, children with lower SES as well as older children reported to use screen-based media more often and that girls, older children and children with lower SES were less physically active. In addition, boys and children with lower SES engaged less frequently in choir/orchestra and theater/dancing, while children with higher SES met their friends more often. The time trend analysis showed that mobile phone use increased drastically from 2011 to 2017, while engagement in choir/orchestra and theater/dancing decreased. Regarding the inter-relation between leisure activities, high screen times were significantly associated with less physical activity and less outdoor time. Physical activity, in contrast, was significantly related to better social life and more outdoor time. These findings highlight the growing importance of electronic media in adolescents’ lives and their tendency to displace other leisure activities.