A glance at the two pie charts provided reveals the relative popularity of various leisure activities among European adults in 1985 and 1995.
Of these activities, watching TV was the most widely enjoyed in both years, at 32 percent in 1985 and a slightly lower 30 percent in 1995. Yet, by far the most significant change to take place during this period was the increased popularity of computer games. Not a single respondent to the survey rated playing computer games as their preferred leisure activity in 1985. However, by 1995 this figure stood at 27 percent – the second highest overall. Also more popular in 1995 was talking with friends, at 26 percent compared to 21 percent a decade earlier.
In stark contrast, however, all other activities decreased in popularity. Eating out – which was the second most widely enjoyed pastime in 1985, accounting for 23 percent of respondents – slipped to a mere 8 percent in 1995. Likewise, there were also considerable decreases in the popularity ratings of talking with family, other activities and (as previously mentioned) watching television.