Assessment of Spending Leisure Time in Students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 2005

Introduction: Leisure time is an opportunity for individuals to have an intellectual or entertaining activity according to their interests, when they are free from work, gatherings or family responsibilities. This study was performed with the aim to identify students' interests and tendencies as well as their information about facilities of the University for helping the university authorities to plan in regard to students' interests. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 356 students as 10 percent of total number of students in all disciplines who were selected randomly through stratified sampling method. Data was gathered using a questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The mean of the leisure time was 2.47±1.36 hours, which was spent as follows: 88±92 minutes for taking a walk in the park, 77±81 minutes for watching television, and 24±49 minutes for using sport facilities in the university. Students' main priorities for spending their leisure time were respectively resting in 70.9% (n=249), recreational activity in 59.7% (n=209), studying the university lessons in 48.4% (n=170), studying other texts in 47.9% (n=168), doing sport activities in 28.2% (n=99), and entertainment in 22.9% (n=80) of students. There was a significant difference between activities done by male and female students. Conclusion: The amount of leisure time of students in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences is at the same level with students' leisure time in Tehran and Lebanon. Due to the differences in tastes and interests of male and female students and also according to their educational level, university administrators should make appropriate planning in order to increase useful activities for students in their leisure time.