The contribution of serious leisure qualities to passion in the context of collegiate sport club participation

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the relationship between dimensions of collegiate sport club experiences and the development of harmonious and obsessive passions. A measure of serious leisure qualities was employed to assess members’ systematic pursuit with both the sporting and social facets of clubs. Dual passions signify contrasting psychological inclinations arising from optimal and excessive engagement, respectively. Online surveys were administered to collegiate sport club members from two universities. Completed responses from 145 individuals were included for analysis. Regression models revealed that identification and personal rewards facilitated harmonious passion. Notably, no serious leisure qualities fostered obsessive passion, but weekly practice hours did. Our results suggest that club members’ development of their identities and meanings to clubs are crucial to foster an optimal club experience. This finding adds knowledge to recent literature concerning club factors and mechanisms enhancing personal development and successful club operations. Moreover, the exploration of obsessive passion also underscores the needs to further examine the factors that drive members to overly engage in sport clubs. Future research utilising the concept of dual passions can help elucidate the psychological processes club members undergo in balancing their club commitments with other aspects of their lives.