Well-Being and Leisure Activities during COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic of COVID-19 declared by the WHO in March 2020 has changed the lives of many people worldwide. This situation has drastically altered the social, economic, and health status of humans. The pandemic of the COVID-19 situation and the policies set by the authorities have changed the pattern of human life, including habits, lifestyle, and daily routine (Saladino, Algeri & Auriemma, 2020). In turn, people may suffer from high life burden levels that impact the quality of life and balance of life. In society, we have seen lots of changes in our customs and roles in social relationships. Leisure engagement has risen as a salient societal issue during the COVID-19 pandemic. This moment provides us with a unique opportunity to better understand diverse aspects of life on this planet, not least our knowledge of climate change and demographic vulnerabilities, but also the state of leisure. In some ways, the pandemic provided us with the means to look backwards and return to community as the space where leisure takes place. It underscored the strength of connections to neighbors, family, etc. as a means to access the social dimensions of leisure, health, and wellbeing. Therefore, understanding leisure activity participation during COVID-19 will provide helpful information for human physical, mental, and wellbeing. In this session we will discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on socio-cultural, financial, and mental health and the role of leisure in maintaining overall well-being during this period.