LEISURE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The objective of this article is to map the leisure practices of college men and women at the Marco Zero do Equador campus, of the Federal University of Amapá, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides that, we searched: 1. to identify the main barriers to leisure; 2. to portray which activities the students would like to experience more; 3. to know If the pandemic impacted the leisure practices of the university students. The methodology was developed from the combination of bibliographic research with field research through the application of a virtual questionnaire, via the Google Forms platform. The application of the questionnaire occurred in two different moments, the first in May 2021 and the second in March 2022, with the participation of 168 students who were randomly selected based on the fact that they were enrolled in the Marco Zero campus. It was found that the main leisure activities were listening to music, spending time with the family, hanging out with friends, practicing sports, and playing online games. As for the barriers to the above-mentioned experiences, financial barriers, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of adequate spaces for leisure stood out. Regarding the longings for leisure activities, the students indicated the desire for more sports and cultural programs. Considering this, we conclude that there is a need for further studies on this theme so that obstacles to leisure can be faced through public policies that encourage playful corporal experiences and cultural practices, democratizing access to leisure.