The potential of recreational activities in promoting students’ mental health

Abstract

Abstract Objective To evaluate the potential of a recreational activity related to mental health to improve the mood and quality of life of first-year nursing students. Methods This was a pre- and post-test pilot study of a recreational activity in the form of a workbook with activities focusing on ways of dealing with emotions. Data collection occurred between May and June of 2023. A total of 39 students participated in the pre-test, and 26 of them completed the post-test stage. The Brunel Mood Scale, the psychological dimension of the quality-of-life questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref, from the World Health Organization), and sociodemographic questions (administered before and after the activity) were used. The analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests. Results Concentration ability (p=0.031) and frequency of negative feelings (p=0.021) showed considerable improvement in the post-test, and fatigue (p=0.041), tension (p=0.005), and confusion (p=0.003) decreased significantly. Conclusion The recreational activity improved mood and psychological domain of quality of life in first-year nursing students. Recreational activities of this nature provide a quality break in the study routine, also offering a certain degree of relaxation and leisure. This has a positive impact on the sense of well-being, highlighting the potential for incorporating recreational activities into the technical field of mental health promotion.