Frihet inom ramar

: Mellanstadieelevers definition av meningsfull fritid i fritidshemmets verksamhet

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to contribute knowledge about what middle school students (ages 10–12) define as meaningful leisure time in after-school care, based on the research question: which factors do middle school students describe as motivating for a meaningful leisure time in after-school care activities. The background of the study is based on an interest in middle school students’ experiences of after-school care. The study takes its point of departure in selfdetermination theory, which focuses on underlying social and contextual factors that influence individuals’ motivation and well-being.
The data were collected through semi-structured interviews in the form of walking conversations, where the researchers and respondents walked around the outdoor environment of the after-school care setting while recording the conversations using a voice recorder. The interview material was analyzed using thematic analysis.
The analysis resulted in three themes: freedom within structure, selfdetermination, and relational security. The results show that students define meaningful leisure time as opportunities for social relationships, selfdetermination, and activities that involve challenges. The students highlighted friendships as one of the most important factors for experiencing meaningfulness in after-school care, emphasizing that it was meaningful to be able to interact with anyone, rather than only within predetermined groups.
Another important factor that emerged was the importance of students feeling competent; they considered themselves mature enough to make decisions about their own time, and meaningfulness was achieved when the structure of the afterschool setting allowed them to do so.
In conclusion, the results of the interviews show that students in after-school care experience meaningfulness when a combination of freedom and structure is provided, along with opportunities for self-determination and a sense of community where relationships are central.

Date of Award	2026-Jun
Original language	Swedish
Supervisor	Göran Roos (Supervisor), Kristina Lund (Assessor) & Mattias Nilsson Sjöberg (Examiner)