Leisure Time Activities among Tehrani High School Students with an Emphasis on the Role of Family

G. Bahrami, M.A.

T. Khademian, PhD

The purpose of the present study was to describe and analyze leisure time activities among Tehrani high school students along with the contributing factors with an emphasis on the role of the family. This is a descriptive survey and the instrumentation comprised a questionnaire. The statistical population of the study consisted of all Tehrani high school students. The sample which was selected through simple random as well as multi-stage cluster sampling methods included 351 students. Based on the related literature, indexes such as socializing activities, participating activities, physical (active), passive (educational, scientific), passive (recreational, media) and arts were identified. Pearson Product Moment correlation was used for examining the relationship between the variables. In addition, F-test was utilized for testing the hypotheses. Results indicated that gender affected leisure time activities. More specifically, gender significantly contributed to leisure time indexes of physical (active), arts, passive (educational, scientific), and passive (recreational, media). Moreover, parents with higher education level spent more time with their children for leisure time activities. In addition, there was a significant relationship between parents’ education level and leisure time indexes of socializing activities, participatory activities, and passive (educational, scientific). Popular pastimes of majority of students included spending time with family, watching TV, resting and sleeping, listening to music, using mobile phone, spending time with friends, doing sport, taking part in parties, walking, going to parks and recreational centers as well as working with computer.

Key Words: students, leisure time, parents, family, leisure time activities