Research Problem

Research Problem

With Covid-19 restrictions, many individuals have experienced increased isolation and limited socialization which may lead to mental health issues such as depression. As a result, many individuals may turn to their favourite hobbies to help cope with these feelings. But are these hobbies adding to or solving the problem? Government restrictions during the pandemic, including replacing physical interaction with virtual interaction, have “led to a negative impact on the mental health of students” (Ali et al., 2021, p. 2).

The main research question for this study: How have hobbies impacted the mental health of university students during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Sub-questions:

• What motivated one’s participation in their chosen hobby/hobbies?
• What are the most popular types of hobbies?
• Did these hobbies contribute negatively or positively to students’ mental health?
• Does participating in a hobby/hobbies mean also engaging in the subculture(s) associated with one’s chosen activity?