PMU reveals latest results from recreational survey

Pari Mutuel Urbain has completed its 9th Recreational survey revealing how the French prefer to spend their leisure time.

This first survey of 2015 explores the role of leisure as a social link between people in France.

The internet study, conducted by TNS Sofres, was run between 2nd and 9th March 2015 across a representative sample of 1000 French individuals aged 18 to 65 years.

Results from the study include:

• The internet, despite being thought to encourage withdrawal from society, in fact acts as a catalyst towards forming genuine personal relationships through the sharing of a passion or hobby.
• The majority of the French say free/leisure time is primarily spent interacting with relatives and friends.
  41 percent of respondents said they had established friendly relationships, whether brief or lasting, via the internet.
• 50 percent of those have converted a virtual internet contact to a personal meeting.
• 75 percent of those virtual contacts made ​​via the internet often lead to friendships: 75 percent of which led to a friendship, which 4 cases out of 10 was a lasting one.
• The internet is the preferred vehicle in maintaining social ties and relationships.
  75 percent of respondents interact via the internet regarding their hobbies with other people, for convenience (80 percent) and to create or strengthen links (55 percent).
• 65 percent of those prefer to practice their hobbies with other people, rather than alone, saying they value the friendliness (80 percent),  the motivational aspect of a group (56 percent) and the exchange of creativity and strengthening of links (55 percent).  69 percent of these were young people between the ages of 18-24 years who expressed a stronger need to share than other demographics.
• 70 percent of French like to share their family fun via the internet, while 55 percent of those use it exclusively to do so.
• 71 percent of respondents access social networks and 60 percent shopping sites/private sales ahead of forums or blogs (31 percent) and online gaming sites (29 percent).
• Night (71 percent) or cultural outings (62 percent) are usually group affairs.
• The majority of French consider recreation as a family affair (70 percent).  55 percent of respondents considered recreation even more important when done with children and grandchildren.
• Recreation is also considered to be an opportunity to  exchange knowledge (60 percent) and is used for personal development (53 percent).

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