Recommendations
Recommendations
This current study explored the connection between hobbies, mental health, and university students. There is still a significant opportunity for further exploration of the subject matter. Since hobbies are so subjective and unique, it would be impossible for any study to factor in every potential hobby. The four types in this study (see table 1) provide a general framework to categorize hobbies, but more detail could be useful.
One possible way to gain more information about people’s chosen hobby/hobbies is to do research through interviews and unobtrusive observation. An online survey could be impersonal and rely heavily on participants to self-report information about their lifestyles for the data to be completely accurate. Interviews allow for the researcher to be in the room with the participant and have the flexibility to ask potential follow-up questions if they are unsatisfied with the depth or quality of an answer. This would result in better qualitative information when researching emotional connections between a student and their hobby/hobbies. Unobtrusive observation would also allow the researcher to sit back and watch someone participate in their hobby/hobbies and make their own observations of the participants’ lifestyle to compare it to the information gathered in the interview. Taking a more personal approach to the connection between hobbies, mental health, and university students would allow for more accurate data.
An area for future study into hobbies is to collect more information on the hobby/hobbies themselves. Gathering data on what one’s participation in their hobby/hobbies looks like, their emotional connection to the hobby, and their level of participation would allow for a better understanding of people’s unique relationships with their hobby/hobbies. This current study did not account for the unique ways that people experience their hobbies; therefore, it limits the ability to analyze participants’ overall relationship with their hobby/hobbies. Studying how students experience their hobbies could establish a better view of their lifestyle. Future research should also consider the creation of more hobby types to categorize more activities. For example, adding a social hobby type or placing one activity into multiple hobby types, as mentioned with videography, would help detail the connection that hobby types have with mental health.
The terminology within specific questions in this survey led to vague responses that did not effectively answer some of the study’s research questions. More specifically, asking students to label their overall life satisfaction as good, bad, or okay does not provide much detail into how the participant may actually feel (see Figure 9). The language used in future survey questions should encourage participants to express as much detail as possible and in their own words. When people rate their life satisfaction, the question should either be left open-ended or have answers that depict how the participant may feel.
Lastly, there is a greater depth of analysis needed on the relationship between hobbies and the subculture of hobbies. Hobby subcultures could be examined in a separate study that analyzes casual participation versus enthusiastic participation or how those subcultures affect the relationship individuals have with their respective hobbies. This current study investigates the time spent within hobby subcultures and the different types that exist, but defining what subculture participation looks like would help participants see how much time they actually spend in their hobby’s subculture. Comparing the different characteristics of hobby subcultures, such as the motivation behind joining certain groups and how someone participates in subcultures, would highlight the dedication or relationship one has with their hobby.
