The dynamic association between healthy leisure and substance use in South African adolescents: A state and trait perspective

South Africa has an increasing adolescent substance use problem, lack of leisure opportunities and resources and high adolescent discretionary time. How aspects of leisure relate to adolescent substance use is not well understood. Little research has been conducted on the leisure behaviours and experiences of South African adolescents, if and how those behaviours are associated with substance use, and ecological influences on those associations. By applying multi-level models to longitudinal data obtained from youth living in high-risk contexts, this research examines the association between state and trait healthy leisure and adolescent substance use and how perceived parental over-control moderates those associations. Results indicate healthy leisure protects against substance use at state and trait levels, provides empirical support that risk behaviour can be addressed through leisure-based interventions and emphasises the importance of both short- and long-term processes when considering the context-dependent nature of adolescents’ leisure experiences.