Adolescents' Hobbies and Their Well-Being

Abstract

This research was a part of a broader study that investigated adolescents’ leisure activities in the context of positive youth development. Our intention was to explore how well-being is connected with hobbies in adolescence. Hence, the aim was to determine if there are correlations between certain creative activities, operationalized through hobbies (blog writing, creative writing, drawing/painting, graphic design, music, jewelry making, computer related and artistic photography), and five aspects of well-being (Engagement, Perseverance, Optimism, Connectedness and Happiness). Higher scores on Engagement, Perseverance and Connectedness for adolescents who are engaged in hobbies are expected, concerning hobbies as individual and intrinsically motivated activities. Data show that Engagement is the most dominant aspect of well-being among adolescents who practice investigated hobbies. Happiness is the only aspect with exclusively negative connections, while Optimism has both positive and negative values. Drawing distinguishes as the sole hobby with only negative aspects of well-being. Results point to the importance of further investigation of well-being aspects in positive development of adolescents and to the different well-being experiences of those who practice various hobbies.