Leisure as a protective factor. Perception of young adults of the city of Melill

Abstract

Leisure is a potential protective factor against risks such as social exclusion or drug and alcohol consumption. The aim of this article is identifying the relevance of the management of leisure activities as a protective factor against these risks. In this exploratory diagnostic study, 80 semi-structured interviews were conducted with young people between 18 and 35 years of age from Melilla. A large majority of the participants considered that leisure acts as a protective factor against drug consumption and exclusion and it is an essential component in the configuration of the social network. Despite this, the local leisure offerings were valued negatively. These results show that young adults of Melilla recognize and demand valuable leisure offerings that enable them to face pressing problems such as the consumption of drugs and social exclusion. This is not only supported by their demands but also by various proposals that they raise.