This paper examines the relationship between satisfaction with leisure time and perception of its use (organization, quantity, utilization) with well-being in 1,588 adolescents from Rio Grande do Sul aged between 12 and 16 (M = 14.13, SD = 1.26). We employed the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) and two questionnaires that assess satisfaction with leisure activities and its perception of use. Activities involving social interaction and physical and intellectual development are predictors of well-being. The same does not occur with activities related to music, internet, cell phones and videogames. The perception of organization and utilization of leisure time is also associated with wellbeing. Further analysis shows differences in gender, age, and school with respect to the studied variables. We discuss the characteristics of the leisure time that promotes well-being and the importance of adolescents' autonomy and control during the activities they perform.
leisure time; well-being; adolescents
