The five-factor model for leisure management: pedagogies for assessing personality differences in positive youth development programmes

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe field of leisure management and positive youth development (PYD) programmes has expanded with new research highlighting the practical issues of working with a diverse population of clients seeking recreational experiences. One factor contributing to the diverse population in leisure services is the variety of personality differences among individual participants. Research in personality differences examines variations as outlined by McCrae and Costa [(1991). The NEO personality inventory: Using the five-factor model in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, (4), 367)] in the “Big Five” otherwise known as the five-factor model; extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, openness to experience, and conscientiousness. This is a conceptual paper which advocates for a pedagogy which uses the five-factor personality model in leisure services for PYD programmes. This paper has three main objectives: first, to provide a brief overview of leisure and PYD literature; second, to address the role of the five-factor model of personality in leisure and PYD programmes; and third, to provide propositions regarding practical applications.