Leisure and Spiritual Well-Being Relationships: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to uncover the processes that link leisure with spiritual well-being. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight people who had an expressed interest in spirituality. There was unanimous agreement that participants associated their leisure activities and experiences with their spiritual well-being. An attitude of openness, balance in life, nature settings, settings of personal or human history, settings of quiet, solitude and silence, and”true to self' activities were all conducive to spiritual well-being, while busyness, noisy settings and activities, and incongruent activities were detrimental to spiritual well-being. Most of the themes identified were consistent with writings on spirituality, conceptual discussions of leisure and spirituality, and previous research findings. The most important implications arising from this study may relate to leisure education.