Development and validation of a multidimensional scale measuring free time boredom

Abstract

A test was developed to assess free time boredom (the FTB scale). FTB components suggested by the literature were utilized to extract indicators, then developed into items. Three preliminary trials were used on separate samples of 109, 152 and 163 persons, to add, delete and modify items. Factor analysis in a nal eld test (347 subjects) produced four factors, accounting for 45% of the variance. Based upon the resulting factor structure, four subscales were developed and labelled as 'lack of meaningful involvement', 'lack of mental involvement', 'slowness of time' and 'lack of physical involvement'. Internal consistency coef cients for the subscales ranged from 0.91 to 0.78 while inter-subscale correlations ranged from r = 0.62 to 0.23. The moderate relationships of the FTB scale with the Boredom Proneness Scale and two items on boredom demonstrated acceptable concurrent validity.

Academic boredom, engagement and the achievement of undergraduate students at university: a review and synthesis of relevant literature

“…With new and different types of boredom emerging over time (existential, job-related, free-time, leisure, marital and sexual), the construction of questionnaire-type, selfreport instruments other than the BPS continued well into the 1990s and beyond (Iso-Ahola and Weissinger, 1990;Watt and Ewing, 1996;Ragheb and Merydith, 2001;Passik et al, 2003). While the search for theories and definitions remained somewhat problematic (Mikulas and Vodanovich, 1993), research was operationalised from descriptions of boredom alone and drew on what was already known: '… [boredom] an unpleasant, transient, affective state in which the individual feels a pervasive lack of interest in and difficulty concentrating on the current activity …' (Fisher, 1993: 396) The 1990s also witnessed the emergence of important collaborations between authors with the prolific output from Stephen Vodanovich, Steven Kass and John Watt in the United States worthy of particular mention.…”

Boredom in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Lost Criterion Reconsidered

“…Existing self-report measures of boredom tend to conflate the general description or experience of boredom with its causes and consequences [46]. They also tend to focus on specific features of the experience or particular contexts, including work [47,48], leisure time [49,50], or interpersonal relationships [51]. An obvious limitation of these measures is their restricted scope, and their clinical utility is difficult to establish [16].…”

Validity and reliability of the ‘Leisure Participation Observation’ among adults with intellectual disabilities: A pilot study

“…Leisure Coping Strategy Scale; Iwasaki & Mannell, 2000), boredom in leisure and free time (e.g. Free Time Boredom; Ragheb & Merydith, 2001) and leisure satisfaction assessments (e.g. Leisure Time Satisfaction; Stevens et al, 2004).…”