Leisure and community type as indicators of overall quality of life

Abstract

Sustainable communities address social, economic, and environmental issues in an integrated manner to ensure a healthy and viable community atmosphere where quality of life is a key consideration (Cartwright, 2000). Understanding the community attributes that influence quality of life has become a major interest area among sociologists, recreation administrators, and policy analysts (Allen, Long, & Perdue, 1991; Payne & Schaumleffel, 2008). The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between satisfaction with leisure opportunities and the quality of life (based on a global measure) in rural, small town, suburban, and urban South Carolina communities. The data were collected using a stratified systematic sampling process by zip code and a mailed self-reported questionnaire. This method resulted in 299 usable responses and yielded a response rate of 37 per cent. Results from this study suggest a significant and positive relationship between satisfaction with the leisure dimensions of community and overall quality of life. Results also indicate that measures of satisfaction with dimensions of community are good predictors of overall quality of life for residents. The present study indicates that community leisure opportunities and resources remain important indicators and predictors of residents' positive quality of life.