ABOUT GLOBAL AND LOCAL LEISURE PRACTICES: A STUDY ABOUT UNIVERSITY STUDENDS IN SPAIN AND LATIN AMERICA

Abstract

The development of experiential leisure raises the need to define new theories on how to understand leisure from empirical results to date. In this case, the aim is to determine which aspects related to leisure experiences can be considered common globally and, hence, generalised and which correspond to specific contextual circumstances. The target sample consisted of 476 subjects, out of who, following the ratio of the centres, 176 were men and 297 women. The error margin for the total sample was +/- 4.5 and the confidence level was 95%, under the assumption of maximum uncertainty (p=q=50%). A structured questionnaire was applied to this sample, conducted by the Institute of Leisure Studies at the University of Deusto, Bilbao (Spain). It was self-completed by the surveyed students, and there was one person to answer any queries or problems that might arise. The results provide interesting data related to the understanding of experiential leisure time and its impact. It can be said that the university students surveyed shared an overall feeling: a positive conception of leisure, a multidimensional approach to experiences, an interest in recreational, creative, environmental/ecological activities, or a perceived emotional benefit obtained from leisure experiences. On the other hand, the following were conditioned by different contexts: the level of satisfaction, the perceived barriers, the experience of the solidarity dimension of leisure, or festive leisure time. The most popular experiential leisure form among the young people surveyed was associated with travel.