engleski

Primary School Pupils’ Free Time Activities

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in spending free time in kinesiology and non-kinesiology related activities between subsamples defined according to gender and age on the sample of students completing primary and attending lower secondary education. Daily physical exercise is very important for the health of children and youth. Failing to be involved in daily physical exercise and to participate in kinesiology related free time activities has become an important public health problem. This study was conducted on a convenience sample of boys and girls attending fifth to eighth grades. The total number of students who participated in the study was 847, of which 413 girls and 434 boys. A questionnaire, designed for the purpose of this research, was used to assess the level of students’ activities in their free time. The significance of differences between subsamples defined according to gender was determined by Mann-Whitney U test, while the significance of age differences was determined by Kruskal Wallis test. The results of the Mann-Whitney U test confirmed the existence of statistically significant gender differences among fifth to eighth graders in the implementation of kinesiology and non-kinesiology related activities during free time. The analysis of kinesiology related activities shows that girls spend more time in the activities of walking, roller skating, playing badmiton, volleyball and dancing, while boys spend more free time cycling, playing football, basketball and handball. After analysing nonkinesiology related activities, it was established that boys are more interested in IT related activities (computer, playstation...) whose sole purpose is playing games and entertainment, while girls are more involved in activities that are fun, relaxing and educational. Significant age differences in the implementation of non-kinesiology related activities were also found among the students. The established difference is the most significant among age groups (younger and older students), but age differences are certainly also determined by natural laws of growth and development specific for the surveyed population. The analysis of the participation in kinesiology related activities did not reveal significant differences according to age.

free time; kinesiology related activities; non-kinesiology related activities; school; students

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