Exploring the link: Active recreation, leisure boredom, and life satisfaction in South African undergraduate students

Contributors
Nadine Labuschagné Cornelia M Schreck J Theron Weilbach
DOI icon https://doi.org/10.36386/sajrsper.v47i1.571
Abstract

Student wellbeing is a growing research field, with limited research in a South African context, especially on the benefits of campus recreation sport (CRS) to students. This study determines the correlations between the frequency of participation in CRS, leisure boredom, and satisfaction with life (SWL) of undergraduate students at North-West University (NWU). A cross-sectional design was used with 512 students completing an online survey. Demographic information and data on frequency of participation, SWL, and leisure boredom were used. Spearman’s correlation was used to determine relationships between variables. Students were 48% male and 52% female and included white (71%), black (22%), coloured (6%) and “other” (1%) students. A significant negative correlation was found between SWL and leisure boredom (r=-0.170). Frequency of participation across all forms of CRS had a significant negative correlation with leisure boredom (r=-0.146) and a significant positive correlation with SWL (r=0.135). Outdoor activities showed the strongest positive correlation with SWL (r=0.143) and negative correlation with leisure boredom (r=-0.149). A significant positive correlation exists between active participation and satisfaction with life, and a significant negative correlation between total participation and leisure boredom, although these correlations were weak. The results indicate the potential of CRS to benefit students’ SWL.

References
  1. ANDRE, E.K.; WILLIAMS, N.; SCHWARTZ, F. & BULLARD, C. (2017). Benefits of campus outdoor recreation programs: a review of the literature. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 9(1): 15-25. https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2017-V9-I1-7491
  2. ASTIN, A.W. (1993). What matters in college? Four critical years revisited. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  3. BARNES, S.; MACALPINE, G. & MUNRO, A. (2015). Enhancing student retention and success at the University of Sydney. A Practise Report. The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education, 6(1): 195-202. http://dx.doi.org/10.5204/intjfyhe.v6i1.266
  4. BEGGS, B.; ELKINS, D.J. & POWERS, S. (2005). Overcoming barriers to participation in campus recreational sports. Recreational Sports Journal, 29(2): 143-155. https://doi.org/10.1123/rsj.29.2.143
  5. BEGGS, B.; NICHOLSON, L.; ELKINS, D. & DUNLEAVY, S. (2014). Motivation for participation in campus recreation based on activity type. Recreational Sports Journal, 38(2): 163-174. https://doi.org/10.1123/rsj.2014-0038
  6. BUSSERI, M.A.; ROSE-KRASNOR, L.; PANCER, S.M.; PRATT, M.W.; ADAMS, G.R.; LEFCOVITCH, S.B.; POLIVY, J. & WINTRE, M.G. (2010). A longitudinal study of breadth and intensity of activity involvement and the transition to university. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(2): 512-518. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2010.00691.x
  7. CEURVORST, R.L.; FULLER, R.; CHILDERS, D.; DUBOIS, M.; STEIGER, S. & HICKS, J. (2018). University outdoor recreation program participation: comparing benefits, constraints, and willingness to pay between males and females. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 10(3): 263-266. https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2018-V10-I3-9047
  8. DANCEY, C.P. & REIDY, J. (2011) Statistics without maths for psychology (5th ed.). United Kingdom: Pearson Education.
  9. DHURUP, M. & MOKOENA, B.A. (2017). The influence of service quality variables in predicting satisfaction and behavioural intentions in a university campus recreation setting. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 6(1): 1-19.
  10. DIEHL, K.; FUCHS, A.K.; RATHMANN, K. & KOLB, J.H. (2018). Students’ motivation for sport activity and participation in university sports: a mixed-methods study. BioMed Research International, 2018: 1-7. https://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/9524861
  11. DIENER, E.D.; EMMONS, R.A.; LARSEN, R. J. & GRIFFIN, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1): 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
  12. ELKINS, D.J.; FORRESTER, S.A. & NOËL-ELKINS, A.V. (2011). The contribution of campus recreational sports participation to perceived sense of campus community. Recreational Sports Journal, 35: 24-34. https://doi.org/10.1123/rsj.35.1.24
  13. EUBANK, J.M. & DEVITA, J.M. (2024). Informal recreation as a contributing factor to life satisfaction in college students. College Student Affairs Journal, 42(1): 37-51. http://doi.org/10.1353/csj.2024.a933847
  14. FOURIE, J.; SLABBERT, E. & SAAYMAN, M. (2011). The leisure and sport participation patterns of high school learners in Potchefstroom. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, 33(1): 65-80. https://doi/abs/10.10520/EJC108939
  15. GÜNGÖRMÜŞ, H.A.; YILDIZ, Y.; AYTEMUR, H. & YUMUK, V.O.Ç.E.D. (2024). Anyone with a charger? Correlation of nomophobia, leisure boredom and quality of life in youth at university. International Journal of Religion, 5(6): 701-709. https://doi.org/10.61707/3ngsrf23
  16. HALL, D.A. (2006). Participation in a campus recreation program and its effect on student retention. Recreational Sports Journal, 30: 40-45. https://doi.org/10.1123/rsj.30.1.40
  17. HUMAN KINETICS. (2006). Introduction to recreation and leisure (1st ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  18. ISO-AHOLA, S.E. & WEISSINGER, E. (1990). Perceptions of boredom in leisure: Conceptualization, reliability and validity of the Leisure Boredom Scale. Journal of Leisure Research, 22(1): 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.1990.11969811
  19. JANSE VAN RENSBURG, N. (2018). Social correlates of recreational sport participation among a cohort of South African university students. Unpublished doctoral thesis. Potchefstroom, South Africa: North-West University.
  20. KANTERS, M.A. (2000). Recreational sport participation as a moderator of college stress. Recreational Sports Journal, 24(2): 11-24. https://doi/10.1123/nirsa.24.2.10
  21. KELLY, J. (2019). Influence of outdoor and adventure activities on subjective measures of resilience in university students. Journal of Experiential Education, 42(3): 264-279. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1053825919831724
  22. KIL, N.; KIM, J.; PARK, J. & LEE, C. (2021). Leisure boredom, leisure challenge, smartphone use, and emotional distress among U.S. college students: are they interrelated? Leisure Studies, 40(6): 779-792. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2021.1931414
  23. KIM, J.; PARK, C.; FISH, M.; KIM, Y.J. & KIM, B. (2023). Are certain types of leisure activities associated with happiness and life satisfaction among college students? World Leisure Journal, 66(1): 12-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2023.2222701
  24. KING, A.E.; McQUARRRIE, F.A. & BRIGHAM, S.M. (2021). Exploring the relationship between student success and participation in extracurricular activities. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 36(1-2): 42-58. https://doi10.1080/1937156X.2020.1760751
  25. LEE, H.W.; CHO, H. & KIM, M. (2023). Campus sport experience as catalyst for college student adjustment and wellbeing. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 43(4): 1161-1178. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2021.2013160
  26. LEPP, A. (2018). Correlating leisure and happiness: the relationship between the leisure experience battery and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Annals of Leisure Research, 21(2): 246-252. https://doi10.1080/11745398.2017.1325759
  27. LINDSEY, R.R. (2012). The benefits and satisfaction of participating in campus recreational sports facilities and programs among male and female African American students: A pilot study. Recreational Sports Journal, 36: 13-24. https://dx.doi.org/10.1123/rsj.36.1.13
  28. LINDSEY, R.R & SESSOMS, E. (2006). Assessment of a campus recreation program on student recruitment, retention, and frequency of participation across certain demographic variables. Recreational Sports Journal, 30: 30-39. https://dx.doi.org/10.1123/rsj.30.1.30
  29. MEDIC, N.; MACK, D.E.; WILSON, P.M. & STARKES, J.L. (2007). The effects of athletic scholarships on motivation in sport. Journal of Sport Behavior, 30(3): 292-306. http://hdl.handle.net/10464/2343
  30. ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD) (2022). Life satisfaction. In Society at a Glance: Asia/Pacific 2022. OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/358cf07e-en
  31. PENNINGTON, C.R.; BATES, E.A.; KAYE, L.K. & BOLAM, L.T. (2018). Transitioning in higher education: An exploration of psychological and contextual factors affecting student satisfaction. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 42(5): 596-607. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2017.1302563
  32. PUHAKKA, R. (2021). University students’ participation in outdoor recreation and the perceived wellbeing effects of nature. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 36: 100425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2021.100425
  33. SPRUYT, B.; VAN DEN BOSSCHE, L.; KEPPENS, G.; SIONGERS, J. & VAN DROOGENBROECK, F. (2018). Social differences in leisure boredom and its consequences for life satisfaction among young people. Child Indicators Research, 11(1): 225-243. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12187-016-9430-y
  34. THOMAS, S. & KAVYA, K. (2022). Life satisfaction: The role of happiness and optimism among young adults. Journal of Social Sciences and Economics, 1(1), 13-20. https://doi.org/10.61363/jsse.v1i1.33
  35. THOMPSON COON, J.; BODDY, K.; STEIN, K.; WHEAR, R.; BARTON, J. & DEPLEDGE, M.H. (2011). Does participating in physical activity in outdoor natural environments have a greater effect on physical and mental wellbeing than physical activity indoors? A systematic review. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(5): 1761-1772. https://doi.org/10.1021/es102947t
  36. WANG, W. (2014). Relationship between leisure boredom and quality of life: A case study of undergraduates in Southern Taiwan. International Journal of Trends in Economics, Management et Technology 3(2): 10-14.
  37. WANG, E.S.; CHEN, L.S.; LIN, J.Y. & WANG, M.C. (2008). The relationship between leisure satisfaction and life satisfaction of adolescents concerning online games. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 43(169): 177-184.
  38. WEILBACH, J.T. (2013). The relationship between demographic variables and leisure perceptions of selected South African first-year university students. Unpublished doctoral thesis. Potchefstroom, South Africa: North-West University.
  39. WENG, P.Y. & CHIANG, Y.C. (2014). Psychological restoration through indoor and outdoor leisure activities. Journal of Leisure Research, 46(2): 203-217. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2014

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Nadine Labuschagné, Cornelia M Schreck, J Theron Weilbach (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright of the South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation is held by the author/s and licensed under the CC Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0