Transformative (?) change of student leisure time behavior during a pandemic

Abstract

Introduction:

The time of the pandemic meant awareness of the biological threat, the associated sense of uncertainty, and the experience of isolation and reduced face-to-face contact. The functioning conditions of the students were different from the previous models of spending study time and leisure time.

Research Aim:

The aim of the study was to diagnose the change in students' leisure behavior in the context of increased leisure time and the epidemic threat situation, and to determine the degree of persistence of these changes after the threat ceased.

Method:

For the purpose of the study, Nash's model of leisure time was adopted as the model. The research was planned in a quantitative strategy. The study was diagnostic and verification in nature. Questionnaire technique was used to measure the variables - Likert scales. The description of data collection methods was simultaneously with the description of operationalization procedure. All variables were measured by the author's questionnaire, which is based on theoretical findings, concerning the described perspectives. The survey was conducted electronically.

Results:

 Findings indicate that there was a significant increase in transformative slow-time behaviors during the first few months of the pandemic and a decrease after one year. There was also a significant gain in boredom-killing behavioral behaviors during the pandemic.

Conclusions:

The decrease in transformative behaviors during the pandemic after an initial increase may have been due to various factors: low reflexivity and transformative motivation, increasing disjunction.