Survey about teenagers’ leisure activities through several generations

Survey about teenagers’ leisure activities through several generations


A survey about leisure activities through several generations was carried out by the students of 3rd TTSed in 2008-2009. they asked a sample of 80 people[1] about what activities they did when they were teenagers, how long they lasted and how much they cost. They also wanted to know how satisfied they were with doing those activities.

The results show four major trends: increase of outdoors activities, diversification of sports and cultural activities, increase of the cost and time devoted to leisure.

These evolutions are naturally related to the changes in Belgian society. In 1936, workers got one week paid holiday, 2 weeks in 1955, 3 in 1963 and 4 in 1975 thanks to the union fight. The weekly worktime is limited to 40h. So, there’s time for work and time for pleasure.
Moreover TV appears in households in the sixties. It proposes new cultural models, often inspired by the United States (e.g. soaps) and broadcasts live sports events, which aroused vocations among the youth.

Thanks to the economic growth that prevails after WWII, men and women can work, buy goods and leisure activities and offer them to their children during the holidays or even during the schoolyear. Everyone has to blossom out, so reads the new credo of our society.

As the consumer society is constantly creating new needs, we can measure the gap between the grup activities of the elder generations and today’s individual activities.

Activities
Age: 20-35 y.
Modern dance, guitar, musical theory, singing, drama, Swimming, basketball, football, horseriding, tennis, gym, martial arts, Youth movement, going out, ride on a motorbike, …
Duration : 1 to 6h/week often 3-4h/week
Cost: €30 to €150 a month (but €600-€700 for horseriding in winter
Satisfaction level: -Rise of the general culture and sociability
-Problems: arguments with parents about driving over, violence on the fields, alcohol abuse

Age :35-55 y.
Parlour games, doll, cinema, ballet, piano, accordion, reading, TV, Basketball, football, bike, tennis, horseriding, judo, swimming, gym, Youth movement, party, chatting with friends, walk the dog
Duration: ± 10h playingEvery Sunday 2h/week for sports
Satisfaction level: - lack of sports training
Parlour games and riding a bike are the favourite activities.
Complaint about corporal punishment by ballet teacher

Age: 55-70 y
Cinema, reading, music, youth movement, visiting the family or friends, parlour games, playing at the farm with animals, Ball games, fishing, hunting, …
Duration: Every Sunday, 4-5h/week
Satisfaction level: Walking not so funny because parents there, No pocket money, Men were aggressive

Age: 70-85y
Porcelain dolls, playing with brothers and sisters, parlour games...
Bike, footing, gym, football, tennis, Brass band, trumpet, Party, youth movement, knitting, sewing, work at the farm, …
Duration: On Sunday
Cost: 50 cents for the cinema
Satisfaction level: No pocket money, Few free time because had to help the family, look after the youngsters, Only one doll (price), Proud to be helpful “We were happy this way”, Problem: cigarette

Age : < 85 y.
Reading the Holy Bible or prayers, Cinema, Visiting the family, Hoop or top.
Satisfaction level: Not much money – family was poor, Cinema with the family,…




[1] Distribution of the questioned generations:
- 21 people from 20 to 35y. (9 m. - 12 f.)
- 30 people from 35 to 55y. (15 m. - 15 f.)
- 12 people from 55 to 70y. (4 m. - 8 f.)
- 16 people from 70 to 85y. (8 m. - 8 f.)
- 1 person over 85y. (1 f.)