ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to
examine the effects of recreational activities on the social and emotional health
of undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University". The study made use of the descriptive survey
research method was used in carrying out this study. A total of one hundred
(100) students from seven (7) departments from the faculty of education were
selected through simple random sampling technique. A self-structured
questionnaire was used to obtain information from the respondents. Section A
consisted of demographic data of respondents while Section B consisted of items
drawn from the variables of the study. The four point Rennis-Likert scale of
strongly agree, agree, disagree and strongly disagree was adopted as options to
the items. The study found that participation
in sports and recreational activities, among other things, help in:
Enhancing creativity and strategic thinking, decision making, cultivation of
personnel management skills, Stress management etc. On the basis of the findings of the study the following
recommendations were made: Individuals
should endeavor to engage regularly in recreational activities. Policies should
be made that requires students in all faculties to take part in planned
periodic physical activities from time to time and not just those who are in
sports related departments. There should be periodic health and exercise campaigns by sport
administrators to educate students on the benefits of exercise, recreation and
sports, both short and long term. On
a wider sphere, curriculum planners should make recreation a core course in
both the university and as mandatory as other university “school” courses (i.e.
G.S.T).
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title
Page- - - - - - - - i
Certification- - - - - - - - iii
Dedication- - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgement- - - - - - - v
Abstract- - - - - -- - - ix
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study- - - - - - 1
Statement
of problem- - - - - - - 3
Purpose
of the Study- - - - - - - 3
Research
Questions- - - - - - - 4
Limitation
of the Study - - - - - - 4
Significance
of the Study - - - - - 5
Scope
of the Study- - - - - - - 5
Definition
of Terms- - - - - - - 6
CHAPTER TWO:
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept
of recreation- - - - - - - 7
Types
of Recreation- - - - - - - 8
Benefits
of Recreation- - - - - - 11
Recreation
and Social Life- - - - - - 16
Recreation
and Emotional Health- - - - - 20
Recreation
and Stress Management- - - - - 22
Summary
of Literature Review- - - - - 23
CHAPTER THREE:
METHODOLOGY
Research
Design of the study - - - - - 24
Population
of the study- - - - - - 24
Sample
and Sampling Technique- - - - - 25
Research
Instrument- - - - - - - 25
Validity
- - - - - - - - 25
Reliability- - - - - - - - 26
Method of Data Collection - - - - - - 26
Method
of Data analysis - - - - - - 26
CHAPTER FOUR:
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Discussion
of Findings - - - - - - 27
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary - - - - - - - 35
Conclusion- - -- - - - - - 37
Recommendations
- - - - - - - 37
REFERENCES- - - - - - - 38
Appendix- - - - - - - - 40
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study
Recreation is an activity people engage in during their free time that
enhance moment of enjoyment, fun, excitement, pleasure, engrossment and
refreshment of the brain and body through active and passive activities (Udoh, 2000). Unlike leisure, recreation has a connotation
of being morally acceptable not just to the individual but also to society as a
whole, and thus, we program for those activities within that context. What this
means is that, while recreation activities can take many forms they must
contribute to the society in a way that is socially acceptable.
There
are endless recreational activities in which the student of Ambrose Alli
University can be involved which include sports, music, games, reading, art and
crafts and dance. Most of these activities are been abandoned by students. Few
students also believe that sport activities and exercises are only related with
the Human Kinetics and health education students and it is has nothing to do
with their health. They feel only obese or fat people should exercise or
participate in recreational activities. Based on Wilmort's, (2006) work,
recreation is beneficial in that it helps participant to: relax, reduce stress,
stay healthy, refresh their sense, refill their energy, build self-esteem and
sharpen their skills. According to Davis(2006), recreation has long been
associated with benefits to health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and
bowel cancer with regular physical activities. He noted the activities create
positive outcomes such as confidence, self-respect, trust and leadership
abilities. Other benefit of recreational sport include improvement of
happiness, character building, improvement of interaction with diverse sets of
people and contribution to time management (Ikulayo,2006).
Social life may refer to an individual's
interpersonal relationships with people within their immediate surroundings or
general public (Cambridge dictionary). The context can vary from family or +kinship
relations to friendship, marriage, relations with associates, work, clubs,
neighborhood and places of worship. They may be regulated by law, custom or
mutual agreement, and are the basis of social groups and society as a whole
(Bogdani,2001). According to the MacMillan dictionary, (2011), social life
refers to "the time you spend enjoying yourself with friends" or
"the opportunities to do enjoyable things that exist in a particular
place". Berger (2001) described a human being as a social animal and that
the tenor of his social life is one of the most important influence on his
mental health.
According to Maslow's (1954) hierarchy of
needs, the need for love and belongingness is the third level of human needs;
next to physiological and safety needs. In his opinion, human need to feel a
sense of belonging and acceptance among their social groups, regardless if
these groups are large or small. Examples of large social group may include
clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sport teams
and gangs while example of small social connections include family members,
intimate partners, mentor colleagues, and confidants. Human’s need to love, and
be loved by others many people become susceptible to loneliness, social anxiety
and clinical depression in the absence of this love or belonging element. This
need for belonging, for a successful social life, may overcome the
physiological and security needs, depending on circumstances. It becomes
obvious that definition of the social life cannot be complete without the
mention of interpersonal relationships with other human beings. Relationships
with others are the backbone of a realistic social life. This social life could
however be satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
Emotional health is a state of positive,
psychological functioning. It can be thought of as an extension of mental
health; it's the optimal functioning end of the thoughts, feelings and behaviors
that make up both our inner and outer world. It also includes overall
experience of wellness in what we think, feel and do through both the highs and
lows of life. Ones emotional health leads to positive change and personal
growth, a healthy sense of self confidence, a peaceful sense of healing and
recovery from mental challenges and sense of hope.
Thus in a situation where youths in the prime
of their lives, and who make up the vast majority of under graduates aim to
enjoy the best of social lives, one might be led to explore the field of
recreation to ascertain whether it can wield a significance influence on social
life and emotional health or not and to correct the wrong notions the student
have for recreational activities.
Statement of Problem
The society is filled with a lot of disgruntled youths in other desire
and goals many of whom are victim of frustration, low self-esteem, lack of
confidence and inferiority complex among mates or colleagues. These tends to embroil
these youths feelings of lethargy, despair and constant reminder of needs they
could have satisfied and temptation to commit atrocities, thus contributing to
ills of the society and negative impact on the social and emotional health. How
does recreation help cage these frustrations, address the despair and help
positive and productive purposes? It appears that undergraduates of Ambrose
Alli University are undergoing various forms of stress situations that may
result in low self-esteem. It is against this background that this study is
carried out to investigate the effect of recreational activities on the social
and emotional health of the students.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to
investigate the effect of recreational activities on the social and emotional
health of undergraduates in Ambrose Alli University". It is specifically
to achieve the followings:
1. To determine the influence of recreation
on the interpersonal skills of undergraduate.
2. To examine the influence of recreation o
the self confidence and self-esteem of undergraduates.
3. To evaluate the relationship between
recreation and emotional health.
4. To determine the influence of recreation
on the leadership skill of undergraduates.
Research Question
The following questions will guide the study.
1. Will recreation influence the
interpersonal skills of undergraduates?
2. Will recreation influence the self confidence
and self-esteem of undergraduates?
3. Will recreational activities influence the
emotional health of undergraduates?
4. Will recreation influence the leadership
skills of under undergraduates?
Significance of the Study
This study would be of importance to female
and male youth alike by revealing the benefits of recreation to them it will
also be useful to teachers, coaches and guidance counselor since it has the
potential of generating literature that would constitute valuable material for
advice and mentoring.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
The scope of this study covers undergraduates
of four departments in the faculty of education, Ambrose Alli University
Ekpoma. These departments are Human kinetics and Health education, curriculum
and instruction, vocational and technical education and Educational foundation
and management.
Limitation
of the Study
One limitation of the
study may be failure of respondents to return all administered questionnaires
and irregular completion of questionnaires. Another limitation is that the
findings may not be applicable to students of other faculties in the
university.
Definition of Terms
Recreation: this is an activity people engage in during their free time that
enhance moment of enjoyment.
Leisure: freedom from the demands of work or duty.
Social life: An individual's interpersonal relationships.
Emotional health: A state of positive psychological
functioning.
Undergraduate: A student at a college or university who has
not yet earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
Interpersonal skill: the life skills that one uses everyday to
communicate and interact with other people both individually and in groups.
Self-esteem: A female undergraduate's overall emotional evaluation of her own
worth.
Self confidence: A feeling of trust in one's own ability,
quality and judgement.
Leadership Skill: capacity to lead
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