The relationships between participation in structured leisure (SL) activities (e.g., sports, prosocial activities) and adolescent adjustment were investigated. SL activities have been associated with various developmental benefits but there has been a limited number of studies that have investigated the potential negative aspects of participation. Questionnaire data were collected from 210 boys and girls (between grades 10 and 12). Fourteen students participated in focus groups to obtain a phenomenological perspective on SL participation. Adjustment variables included a well-being composite (comprised of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and life satisfaction), a school orientation composite (comprised of students levels of school involvement and their values regarding school), academic achievement, and self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism. Three hypotheses were examined. First, it was predicted that there would be a curvilinear relationship between the extent of SL participation and the various adjustment variables. Second, aspects of play and leisure were expected to have moderating effects on the relationships between SL participation and outcomes. Third, aspects of perfectionism were hypothesized to play a moderating role on the relationship between SL and adolescent adjustment. <p>Although the present investigation yielded some insightful observations about participation in SL activities, the results provided no direct support for the hypotheses. Regression analyses indicated positive relationships between SL participation and self-oriented perfectionism, and SL participation and academic achievement. Negative relationships were found between the degree of playfulness in SL activities and socially prescribed perfectionism, and between academic achievement and global intrinsic leisure motivation. Notable focus group themes included a distinction between the fun experienced in SL activities and the fun experienced in nonstructured contexts, significant positive and negative experiences related to SL participation, and differences and similarities between the SL context and other contexts such as school. It is argued that leisure theory can contribute to a better understanding of the developmental implications of SL participation and that the relationship between SL participation and perfectionism merits further investigation.

The relationships between participation in structured leisure (SL) activities (e.g., sports, prosocial activities) and adolescent adjustment were investigated. SL activities have been associated with various developmental benefits but there has been a limited number of studies that have investigated the potential negative aspects of participation. Questionnaire data were collected from 210 boys and girls (between grades 10 and 12). Fourteen students participated in focus groups to obtain a phenomenological perspective on SL participation. Adjustment variables included a well-being composite (comprised of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and life satisfaction), a school orientation composite (comprised of students levels of school involvement and their values regarding school), academic achievement, and self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism. Three hypotheses were examined. First, it was predicted that there would be a curvilinear relationship between the extent of SL participation and the various adjustment variables. Second, aspects of play and leisure were expected to have moderating effects on the relationships between SL participation and outcomes. Third, aspects of perfectionism were hypothesized to play a moderating role on the relationship between SL and adolescent adjustment. <p>Although the present investigation yielded some insightful observations about participation in SL activities, the results provided no direct support for the hypotheses. Regression analyses indicated positive relationships between SL participation and self-oriented perfectionism, and SL participation and academic achievement. Negative relationships were found between the degree of playfulness in SL activities and socially prescribed perfectionism, and between academic achievement and global intrinsic leisure motivation. Notable focus group themes included a distinction between the fun experienced in SL activities and the fun experienced in nonstructured contexts, significant positive and negative experiences related to SL participation, and differences and similarities between the SL context and other contexts such as school. It is argued that leisure theory can contribute to a better understanding of the developmental implications of SL participation and that the relationship between SL participation and perfectionism merits further investigation.

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Aim: This study examined associations between leisure-time activities and gambling participation respectively problem gambling among adolescents in Sweden. Furthermore, the study examined sex differences and the degree of possibly confounding factors. Methods: The data was obtained from European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, 2019 (n=1,911). Chi2-tests and logistic/multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. Results: Unstructured leisure-time activity was robustly positively associated with gambling participation, structured leisure-time activity was weakly negatively associated with gambling participation among students. Unstructured leisure-time activity was moderately positively associated with problem gambling, structured leisure-time activity was weakly negatively associated with problem gambling among students. Unstructured leisure-time activity was strongly positively associated with gambling participation, structured leisure-time activity was strongly negatively associated with gambling participation for boys. Unstructured leisure-time activity was weakly positively associated with gambling participation for girls. Parental monitoring, school adjustments and externalizing behaviour problems affected the association between unstructured leisure-time activity for students respectively boys. Conclusion: Associations were found of varying extent between leisure-time activities and gambling participation respectively problem gambling. More and stronger associations were found for boys than girls and possibly confounding factors affected the association between unstructured leisure-time activity and problem gambling to some degree.

Introduktion: Ungdomskriminalitet är ett folkhälsoproblem med negativ konsekvens för både ungdomarna själva och samhället i stort. Det påverkar hälsa och välbefinnande hos de inblandade, bidrar till ojämlikhet och belastar samhällets resurser. Förebyggande åtgärder, interventioner och främjande av skyddsfaktorer är avgörande för att minska förekomst av ungdomskriminalitet och därmed förbättra folkhälsan. Syfte: Syftet med denna strukturerade litteraturstudie var att identifiera ett antal skyddsfaktorer vilka förekommer inom strukturerade fritidsaktiviteter och undersöka deras potential att förebygga ungdomskriminalitet. Metod: En tematisk analys utfördes på 20 vetenskapliga originalartiklar som erhölls från databaserna PubMed och EBSCO host i en strukturerad litteraturstudie. Resultat: Studien identifierade ett antal skyddsfaktorer inkluderade i strukturerade fritidsaktiviteter vilka bidrar till att förebygga normbrytande beteenden som kan leda till ungdomskriminalitet. Dessa skyddsfaktorer inkluderar personlig utveckling, socialt stöd, meningsfullhet och självkänsla, struktur och ledarskap inom fritidsaktiviteter samt individanpassad aktivitet. Slutsats: Studien visar att strukturerade fritidsaktiviteter inkluderar flera skyddsfaktorer som har potential att förebygga ungdomskriminalitet. / Introduction: Juvenile delinquency constitutes a public health concern with detrimental implications for both the young individuals and society collectively. It impacts the well-being and health of those involved, contributes to inequality, and strains societal resources. Preventive measures, interventions, and the promotion of protective factors are crucial to mitigate the occurrence of youth delinquency, thus enhancing public health. Aim: The aim of this structured literature review was to identify a range of protective factors within structured leisure activities and explore their potential in preventing youth delinquency. Method: A thematic analysis was conducted on 20 scholarly original articles retrieved from the databases PubMed and EBSCO host in a structured literature study. Results: The study identified several protective factors inherent to structured leisure activities that contribute to preventing deviant behaviours that may lead to juvenile delinquency. These protective factors encompass personal development, social support, meaningfulness and self-esteem, structure and leadership within leisure activities, and individual adaptation. Conclusion: The study highlights that within structured leisure activities, there are several protective factors that show potential in mitigating juvenile delinquency.