Frequency, type, and diversity of Organized Leisure-Time Activities in the Context of Mental Health and Well-Being of Czech Adolescents Aged 11–15

Background Participation in organized leisure-time activities (OLTA) is widely recognized as a important determinant of adolescent development, but questions remain about the relative importance of different activity types and the role of participation frequency. Methods Data were drawn from the nationally representative Czech sample of the 2022 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. A total of 14,588 adolescents aged 11–15 years completed standardized questionnaires. Latent class analysis was applied to identify clusters of OLTA participation, and logistic regression models examined associations between cluster membership, participation frequency, and multiple indicators of health and well-being, controlling for age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Results Findings demonstrated that adolescents engaged in OLTA reported higher levels of well-being across several outcomes compared to non-participants. Team-based and all-rounder clusters of OLTA participation showed the strongest and most consistent positive associations, while the artist cluster revealed weaker but still significant benefits. A dose–response relationship was observed, indicating that higher frequency of participation was linked to better health outcomes. Conclusions The study underscores the importance of both type and frequency of OLTA participation in supporting adolescent health and well-being and supports previous findings of the positive relationship between varied OLTA participation and psychological outcomes. These findings highlight the need for policies and programs that ensure accessible, diverse, and enjoyable leisure opportunities for all adolescents. Longitudinal research is required to clarify causal mechanisms and inform evidence-based interventions promoting adolescent development.