The World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) raises concerns about the prevalence of sedentary behavior in society, particularly among adolescents. This qualitative study, involving 142 adolescents, aims to analyze their inclination and preferences for Physical Activity and Sports (PAS) and Leisure Activities (LA), considering gender differences. The study utilized semi-structured interviews and focus groups, revealing a strong intention among adolescents to participate in future PAS and LA.

Approximately 80% of adolescents aged 11 to 17 fail to meet global PAS recommendations (Baños et al., 2019), a worrisome trend given the lasting impact of adolescent habits. The Spanish Association of Pediatrics (SAP, 2014) notes that 45% of 15 to 24-year-olds minimally engage in PAS, missing out on benefits like reduced health risks and improved mental and overall well-being (WHO, 2020; Izurieta-Monar, 2019). The sedentary nature of modern society, driven by excessive technology use, exacerbates this issue (ANIBES, 2016). In Spain, these habits indicate that 60.6% of the male population and 56.8% of the female population, aged 13 to 17, are exposed to more than two hours of electronic device usage daily. Additionally, a declining trend in active commuting to educational institutions has been observed (ANIBES, 2016).

Adolescence often witnesses a decline in interest in sports, with most young people active in PAS only until around age 12, mainly in educational or leisure settings (González-Hernández & Martínez-Martínez, 2020). At the same time, adolescents encounter certain inconveniences when engaging in PAS. Some of the barriers are related to the incompatibility of activities, lack of time, or demotivation due to routine and imposed practice (Espada-Mateos & Galán, 2017). Simultaneously, boredom in Physical Education (PE) classes could be a strong predictor of sports abandonment in adolescents (Baños et al., 2019). In this regard, personal reasons have been identified for adolescents disengaging from sports activities, among which laziness, the need for free time for social interaction, or an interest in using technology stand out.

Environmental factors influencing PAS engagement include family sporting habits and peer involvement (Strandbu et al., 2020), with economic barriers limiting opportunities, particularly in institutional settings (García-Moya et al., 2012). Growing income-related inequalities and factors like residence environment and public sports offerings impact PAS continuity (Guérandel, 2022).

Gender disparities in PAS engagement are noticeable, with girls exhibiting lower levels of participation (Peral-Suárez et al., 2020). Gender stereotypes in sports contribute to these differences but are gradually becoming less pronounced due to societal inclusivity values (Beltrán et al., 2023). Interventions in educational settings, particularly PE sessions, are important for promoting PAS among girls, emphasizing enjoyable, diverse, non-competitive activities (Boraita et al., 2022).

Thus, it becomes evident that there is a need to advocate for physical activity and leisure practices that align with participants' preferences, fostering a predisposition towards utilizing free time, and ultimately aiming to cultivate a healthy lifestyle from an early age.

The study's objectives were to analyze adolescents' future PAS and LA intentions, identifying challenges and improvement suggestions from a gender perspective.

This qualitative case study, well-suited for exploring adolescents' experiences and perspectives on PAS and LA, employs a narrative approach to analyze their current and future engagement in these activities within their municipality. The study focuses on understanding the interactions between adolescents and their specific environments related to PAS and leisure, thus offering insights into their lived experiences. The study selected 142 adolescents (72 girls and 70 boys) from a high school in the Valencian community, chosen for their low involvement in PAS and LA. The participants, aged between 11 and 13, voluntarily joined the study with consent from their legal guardians, under the ethical approval of the University of Alicante. The municipality, with a population of nearly 30,000, offers various cultural, social, and sports facilities and supports economically disadvantaged families with subsidies for PAS and LA. Data collection involved semi-structured written interviews and focus groups, using narrative techniques to gather participants' thoughts on current and future involvement in PAS and leisure within their community. The two primary questions explored in the interviews were about the adolescents' preferred PAS and LA and the challenges they face in participation. Interviews were conducted in classrooms, lasting around 40 minutes each, ensuring anonymity and encouraging open expression. Focus groups, consisting of 10 participants each, were used to understand improvement suggestions for the municipality's PAS and leisure offerings. These groups facilitated the exchange of diverse opinions in a natural setting, allowing for the validation of perspectives. The sessions, held during the school day, lasted 45 minutes each, emphasizing participation and active listening. The data collection phase spanned two weeks, with permissions obtained from educational institutions and legal guardians. The information from interviews and focus groups was transcribed and analyzed using inductive content analysis to establish themes, categories, and codes. The research identified two main themes: adolescents' predisposition and preferences for PAS and LA, and their suggestions for improving these activities in their municipality. Using the Analysis of Qualitative Data 7 software, the study integrated quantitative and qualitative data, presenting findings as a percentage of absolute frequency, and including significant narrative excerpts. This comprehensive approach provided a detailed understanding of the adolescents' perspectives on PAS and LA, their preferences, challenges, and improvement ideas within their community context.

This case study highlights the strong future inclination of adolescents towards PAS and LA, emphasizing the importance of customizing these programs to their preferences, age, and gender. Institutions need to align their PAS and leisure offerings with the interests of the youth. The study reveals distinct preferences among adolescents: girls show a tendency towards individual physical activities, while boys lean more towards group sports and technological pursuits. Girls also exhibit a greater interest in artistic and social media activities. This diversity poses a challenge to program designers, who often fail to consider the varied preferences of different age groups, leading to a mismatch between available activities and what adolescents want. A significant concern raised by the youth is the need for better sports and leisure facilities, with many existing ones perceived as outdated, inadequate, or expensive. The adolescents propose renovations and improvements to these facilities and resources. They also suggest more equitable economic distribution to address disparities in the types of activities offered. This could include offering scholarships and free activities for disadvantaged and large families, thereby enhancing the quality and accessibility of sports services. The use of social media is recommended by the young participants for better promotion and information dissemination about physical and LA. They also advocate for conducting surveys to gain a deeper understanding of their interests and preferences. Finally, the study highlights adolescents' strong future intentions for PAS and LA, with preferences varying by gender. The findings underscore the need for updated and adapted sports and leisure facilities, better economic resource distribution, and tailored programs to align with youth preferences. This approach could foster a disposition towards PAS from a young age. This research was funded by the project “Diagnosis and Analysis of Adherence to Physical Activity and Sports among Young People. . .,” File 3992/2022.

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