Background: The discretionary time use opportunities and choices available to socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents has long-term implications for health. As a potentially modifiable determinant of current and later life outcomes, a contemporary understanding of how adolescents from under-funded areas in Scotland experience and perceive their free time is needed to underpin efforts to address the social gradient of youth participation in developmentally appropriate, health-promoting leisure activities.

Aim A critical ethnographic approach is being applied to fulfil the following aims: i) Explore the leisure-time participation of adolescents growing up in low-income households and or from disadvantaged areas in Scotland.

ii) Identify issues and opportunities related to adolescent leisure-time participation in the context of significant socio-economic inequalities in Scotland.

Methods Face-to-face in-person (n=12) and online (n=1) in-depth interviews have been conducted with adolescents and youth adults aged 14 – 21 living in 4 distinct regions in Scotland. A purposive sampling technique has been used to recruit participants via gatekeeping organisations that provide youth services in areas classified as disadvantaged as per the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020. Recruitment is still underway and it is anticipated that at least another 7 interviews will take place.

The second phase of this study involves interviews with stakeholders whose roles are aligned to or directly relate to adolescent leisure-time participation (e.g. parents, teachers, leisure providers, youth workers, volunteers etc).

Data analysis is informed by Braun and Clarke’s process for thematic analysis as well as Carspecken’s five stage approach to conducting a critical ethnography (Carspecken, 1996; Braun & Clarke, 2011). The data analysis process is be supported by the use of Nvivo 12.

Results Preliminary results suggest that opportunities to develop hobbies and leisure interests are restricted due to resource constraints and limited sampling opportunities. Participants have expressed contrasting views on the role of screen-based sedentary leisure in influencing leisure choices and habits. Participants have highlighted the influential role of digital platforms during their free time, questioning the logic behind the current self-regulating approach to reducing excessive platform usage by minors.

Conclusions Lived experience insights shared by children and youth as well as adult stakeholders will contribute towards wide ranging recommendations pertaining to how leisure participation could be improved for children and youth growing up in socio-economically disadvantaged circumstances in Scotland.

Population Health Relevance Efforts to address the social determinants of health amongst at-risk adolescents in Scotland needs to be tailored to the local contexts in which adolescents live and reflect the spaces, places and leisure time issues and opportunities within their local contexts. Targeted efforts to promote sustainable lifestyle changes and to encourage healthy free time habit formation should be initiated during childhood and adolescence using the principle of proportionate universalism.