Adolescents' activities on Saturday : a sociological study of 14/15-year olds from 4 schools in Malta

Abstract

This study researches the various activities, 14/15-year-old secondary school students, do on Saturday related to education, leisure and work. These activities are further studied in relation to gender, parents' occupation and standard of education, and the adolescent's own past academic achievements and aspirations to post-secondary education. The aim of this exercise is to have a better picture of the way adolescents spend their free time when they are not constrained by the timetables of the educational system. The research approach consists of a cross-sectional survey, with questionnaires distributed to 219 Form IV boys and girls attending four General Secondary Schools in November 2002. Findings in this study show that half the adolescent boys and girls do some kind of educational activity on Saturday. These activities include computer/internet use, reading and homework, in this order. Only the very few from both sexes attend private lessons. Boys surpass girls, only in computer and Internet use, activities mostly pursued for entertainment. With regard to leisure activities most respondents spend most of the time watching television and listening to radio programmes mostly music. Soap operas are popular with girls while boys prefer action films and using the playstation. In the evening, most of the 14/15-year-olds go out. Most adolescent girls and boys help their mother on Saturday. Only the very few attend associations or groups to do voluntary work. Girls attend dancing and music whereas boys prefer sports associations. In view of these findings, especially with regard to the importance given to leisure on this day, it is suggested that a policy document on education for leisure targeting adolescents' needs is drawn up and implemented. This should be beneficial to all stakeholders.