Keywords
Gen Z
workplace burnout
serious leisure
casual leisure
wellbeing
leisure activities
hobbies
mental health
How to Cite
Abstract
Generation Z (Gen Z) is the best-educated, technologically adept, and most racially and ethnically diverse generation entering the workforce today. Gen Z also has the highest rate of diagnosed depression and anxiety. They prefer to have a side hustle on top of their full-time jobs; however, the act of monetizing their leisure activity has been shown to add more stress. The benefits of serious and casual leisure are shared; with emphasis on the need for Gen Z to engage in more forms of serious leisure to enhance their well-being and self-perceived employability. Employers and schools should encourage, promote and invest in more serious leisure activities for Gen Z. Continuing the emerging focus on research in leisure studies and careers, specifically focusing on Gen Z is highly recommended.
References
Bian, J., & Xiang, Z. (2023). Do the various leisure forms have equal effects on mental health? A longitudinal analysis of self-selected leisure activities. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, Article 1134854. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1134854
Cirstea, P., & Anagnoste, S. (2023). Young, wild & entrepreneurial: Generation Z’s affinity for entrepreneurship. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, 17(1), 930–947. https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2023-0085
Cosma, A., Pavelka, J., & Badura, P. (2021). Leisure time use and adolescent mental well-being: Insights from the COVID-19 Czech spring lockdown. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), Article 12812. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312812
Donald, W. E., Baruch, Y., & Ashleigh, M. J. (2024). Construction and operationalisation of an Employability Capital Growth Model (ECGM) via a systematic literature review (2016-2022). Studies in Higher Education, 49(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2219270
Donald, W. E., & Jackson, D. (2022). Subjective wellbeing among university students and recent graduates: Evidence from the United Kingdom. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), 6911. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116911
Donald, W. E., Mouratidou, M., Nimmi, P. M., & Ma, Y. (2024). Strategies for enhancing entrepreneurial intention and wellbeing in higher education students: A cross-cultural analysis. Higher Education. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01133-6
Donald, W. E., & Nimmi, P. M. (2023). How seriously do you take your leisure? GILE Journal of Skills Development, 3(1),7–9. https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i1.pp7-9
Leitão, J., Pereira, D., & Gonçalves, Â. (2021). Quality of work life and contribution to productivity: Assessing the moderator effects of burnout syndrome. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), Article 2425. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052425
Ma, Y., Nimmi, P. M., Mouratidou, M., & Donald, W. E. (2024). Exploring the impact of serious leisure on well-being and self-perceived employability: The mediating role of career adaptability among Chinese undergraduates. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-12-2023-0346
Mahayosnand, P. P., & Sabra, S. M. (2023).Virtual interview preparation for Generation Z science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Students - a necessity for the post-pandemic Era A Gen Z STEM student virtual interview step-by-step guide. GILE Journal of Skills Development, 3(2), 7–15. https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp7-15
Mansfield, L., Daykin, N., & Kay, T. (2020). Leisure and wellbeing. Leisure Studies, 39(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2020.1713195
Medaris, A. (2023, November 1). Gen Z adults and younger millennials are “completely overwhelmed” by stress. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/generation-z-millennials-young-adults-worries
Meier, E., Aziz, S., Wuensch, K., & Dolbier, C. (2021). Work hard, play hard…or maybe not: A look at the relationships between workaholism, work-leisure conflict, and work stress. Journal of Leisure Research, 52(3), 330–346. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2020.1778589
Mouratidou, M., Donald, W. E., Nimmi, P. M., & Ma. Y. (2024). Exploring the relationship between self-perceived academic performance and entrepreneurial intention: The moderating roles of serious leisure, perceived stress and gender. Higher Education Skills and Work-Based Learning, 14(4), 767-781. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-02-2024-0053
Nimmi, P. M., & Donald, W. E. (2023). Modelling the interaction between serious leisure, self-perceived employability, stress, and workplace well-being: Empirical insights from graduates in India. Personnel Review, 51(1), 272-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-04-2021-0305
Nimmi, P. M., Krishna, A., & Donald, W. E. (2023). Enabling educators to foster creativity and perceived employability: The role of serious leisure. In: B. Christiansen & A. M. Even (Eds.), Examining Applied Multicultural Industrial and Organizational Psychology (pp. 235-254). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-7212-5.ch012
Parker, K., & Igielnik, R. (2020, May 14).On the cusp of adulthood and facing an uncertain future: What we know about Gen Z so far. Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/05/14/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen-z-so-far-2/
Pichler, S., Kohli, C., & Granitz, N. (2021). DITTO for Gen Z: A framework for leveraging the uniqueness of the new generation. Business Horizons, 64(5), 599–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2021.02.021
Stebbins, R. A. (1992). Amateurs, Professionals, and Serious Leisure. McGill-Queen's University Press.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ponn P. Mahayosnand, SM Sabra