ABC of mental health: Is Leisure time engagement good for mental Health?

The importance of facilitate and implementing leisure time engagement in public health initiatives, to increase social interaction in the community to promote mental health benefits.

ABC of mental health: Is Leisure time engagement good for mental Health? (The Young-HUNT study)
Today's young people report poorer mental health and well-being than before, that may reflect a society that has undergone major changes in recent decades. Both school and in leisure time activities are important social arenas for well-being and coping with life. Participating in activities to do something active, Belong - do something with someone and Commit - do something meaningful, is fundamental in people’s life.
Have leisure time activity (LTA) engagement changed among young people in recent decades, how does it change throughout adolescence and possibly how does this really affect young people? Data from the Trøndelag health survey (HUNT), can provide a basis for a better understanding of the importance of LTA for public health initiatives. The aim of this study was to explore engagement within a wide range of LTA in a population of Norwegian adolescents, and to study possible gender and age differences in the connection between activity engagement, life satisfaction and loneliness.
Using data from 25,245 adolescents (13–19 years) from the Young–HUNT study (1995–2019), the study found that participation in LTA varied over three decades. The proportion who reported low life satisfaction and loneliness increases throughout adolescence. Spectator activities, screen-based activities such as internet use, and gaming increased with sex–specific variation; a larger proportion of boys reported gaming and girls spent more time using internet and watching TV. The proportion of adolescents engaged in social meetings was unchanged over time. Leisure time activities showed lower activity engagement in 16–19 year old compared to 13–15 year olds, with exception of having contact via internet, being out with friends, and attend concerts/cinemas. Social activities like being a spectator at events, having internet contact and being out with friends were correlated with better life satisfaction and less loneliness. Activities such as gaming and internet usage were correlated with poorer life satisfaction and more loneliness. There was also a link between participation in organized sports activity and loneliness, with young people who do not participate more likely to be lonely or become lonely during adolescence than those who participate in organized sports, adjusted for possible confounding factors.
The knowledge from this study reinforces the need for public health strategies to help reverse the reduction in participation in LTA during adolescence. Furthermore, the study shows that LTA, especially activities that include spending time with others, are important for quality of life and less loneliness.