Analyzing the Type and Experience of Leisure Participation According to Stress Level in Korean Men during COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Korean men are under immense stress as it has become increasingly difficult to support their families due to economic difficulties following the loss of employment, along with the absence of social activities due to lockdowns and restrictions caused by the pandemic. The experience of sociocultural leisure activities, particularly, can have a socially and psychologically positive effect as a means to overcome a difficult situation such as the pandemic scenario. Thus, this study aims to examine the extent the level of stress interferes with leisure activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify how participating in leisure activities can reduce stress. Material and Methods: In this study, results were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and mean) and inferential statistics (ANOVA and Chi-square test) using SPSS (Version 25.0, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) on 942 Korean men. Results: When differences in leisure experiences were analyzed according to psychosocial stress, it was found that there was a significant difference in all factors: fun, information, new experience, and art. Furthermore, when the differences in the type of leisure activities and leisure experience were analyzed according to psychosocial stress, variations were found in leisure experience depending on leisure activity type in all groups including the healthy group, potential stress group, and the high-risk group. Conclusions: It seems necessary to increase accessibility for participating in leisure activities for men. Increasing accessibility to leisure activities may provide leisure that can be enjoyed throughout life beyond a one-time experience and reduce all aspects of stress and increase psychological and emotional stability during pandemic. Furthermore, the government needs to actively improve youth welfare in such a way that it becomes more future-oriented rather than present-oriented by reducing the level of psychological stress by considering the circumstances specific to Korean men.