Patrick Foss Johansen has followed 599 youths from the age of 13 to 18 through surveys and 41 in-depth interviews.
Research based on this material sheds light on how young people's leisure activities change over time.
– Despite increasing demands and challenges that young people face, many continue to stay physically active, writes Patrick Foss Johansen to inn.no.
Patrick has been affiliated with the PhD programme Child and Youth Participation and Competence Development (BUK). His thesis is titled 'Navigating transitions: Youth Leisure and Sports Participation in Norway'.
It turns out that the youths often switched activities, with many moving from organised sports to more informal and individual activities.
– This allowed them to adapt to their own interests and schedules. Family, friends, and the desire to express their own identity played a significant role in their choice of activities, Foss Johansen explains.
This PhD highlights the importance of viewing young people's active leisure as a continuous development.
– By understanding how young people maintain or change their participation through the challenges of this life phase, we can develop better strategies to promote lifelong physical activity. This can have a major impact on public health and help more people stay active throughout their lives, concludes Patrick Foss Johansen.
- Here you can find more information about Patrick Foss Johansen's defence on the 9th of October, 2024
Main findings in the doctoral work:
- Sport and physical activity are a natural part of young people's continuing school and leisure lives. For youths, it is quite common to be active in many different activities.
- Youths' physical activity careers are not linear; they consist of both continuity and change.
- They try and develop various sports activities over time, which builds up their experience and interest.
- Organised sports provide an important foundation for a diverse and adaptable sporting repertoire, while informal activities offer flexibility and make it easier to stay active.
- Family, friends, and their environment play a significant role in the activities youths choose.
- When they start upper secondary school, they experience a form of resocialisation that can change how they spend their free time.
- Having a busy schedule with sports and other activities is part of the culture, not an attempt to chase social status.
- Balancing sport and school helps youths manage stress and makes them better equipped, both mentally and physically.
Contact information:
- patrick.johansen@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 43 02 83