Authors: Torbjörn Kalin

Supervisor and Examiner: Thorbjörn Ahlgren and Klas Borell

Abstract

Organized leisure time activities, OLTA, is proven to be related to positive life outcomes in life. Meanwhile unstructured leisure time activities are related to negative life outcomes. This study examines the relationship between participation in leisure time activities and child abuse and neglect, conduct problems and externalizing behavior. Data from 1305 children, 676 girls and 629 boys, mean age 14,88, was used from the longitudinal multidisciplinary research program LoRDIA (Longitudinal Research on Development In Adolescence). Data was collected via self-report questionnaires in classroom settings. The data was analyzed via Chi-2, Pearson’s R, and logistic regression. Relative risk ratio, RR, was calculated. The main results show that all five types of abuse and neglect, conduct problems and externalizing behavior, and abuse/neglect combined with externalizing behavior is significant related to low participation in OTLA, and high participation in unstructured leisure time activities. Conduct problems is a single predictor of low participation in OTLA, whereas an employed or studying dad is a single predictor of high participation in OTLA. Sexual abuse, externalizing behavior and conduct problems has the highest RR for high participation in unstructured leisure time activities, whereas conduct problems, emotional neglect and sexual abuse has the highest RR for low participation in OTLA.

LoRDIA research is financed by:

Swedish Research Council, FORTE, VINNOVA, Formas.


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