Leisure and life satisfaction: the role of passion and life domain outcomes

Abstract

We investigated passionate leisure activity engagement in relation to the hierarchical model of life satisfaction. The hierarchical model of life satisfaction implies that experiences in life domains (e.g., work, family, leisure) are transmitted to a higher level of general well-being. The aim of the present study was to examine whether harmonious and obsessive passion towards an activity in the leisure domain were differently related to positive outcomes in other life domains, but foremost, to general subjective well-being. Results showed that harmonious passion was positively related to subjective well-being and positive outcomes in all life domains included in the study, whereas obsessive passion was negatively related to subjective well-being and negatively related to positive life domain outcomes. Mediational effects were found using path analyses. Most findings were in concordance with the theories investigated in the study, indicating that the motivation behind leisure activity engagement affects life domain outcomes and life satisfaction. Moreover, the present findings illuminate the potential negative effects of leisure activity engagement.