Abstract
Scientific research on leisure has proven its contribution to physical and psychological well-being in adolescents, especially regarding the practice of structured leisure activities. Leisure is considered a privileged context for adolescents to develop and learn several developmental skills, such as emotion regulation (ER). Nevertheless, the relationship between leisure and ER has been under-researched in adolescents. The present cross-sectional study aims to test a conceptual model concerning the relationship of leisure attitudes and leisure satisfaction with adolescents’ positive functioning and to explore the role of emotion self-regulation strategies in that relationship. Thus, we hypothesized that leisure attitudes would be a predictor of leisure satisfaction; leisure satisfaction would be a predictor of positive functioning dimensions (self-esteem; satisfaction with life; psychological well-being); and the relationship between leisure satisfaction and positive functioning dimensions would be mediated by emotion self-regulation strategies [cognitive reappraisal (CR) and expressive suppression (ES)]. The participants in this study were 654 adolescents from 10th, 11th, and 12th grade, aged between 14 and 19 years old. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. The structural equation analysis showed that leisure attitudes are a significant predictor of leisure satisfaction, and that leisure satisfaction significantly predicts all positive functioning dimensions. CR mediated the relationship between leisure satisfaction and self-esteem. These findings highlight the importance of developing positive attitudes toward leisure to increase adolescents’ levels of leisure satisfaction. This study also supports the importance of leisure satisfaction for achieving adolescents’ positive functioning. Future studies should continue to examine the role of emotion self-regulation strategies on leisure, especially regarding CR.
Highlights
Leisure has been considered one of the most impactful experiences in adolescents’ lives
The present study aims to test a conceptual model of leisure experience and positive functioning in adolescents, based on the relationships among several variables/constructs supported by empirical literature, to be presented
The present study has drawn attention to the study of emotion regulation (ER) strategies in the scope of leisure and positive functioning in adolescence. It suggests that positive leisure attitudes are associated with higher levels of leisure satisfaction that, in turn, are positively associated with self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and psychological well-being
Summary
Leisure has been considered one of the most impactful experiences in adolescents’ lives. The benefits of leisure, understood as a context, an activity, or an experience, is well documented in the literature, along with the evidence that it (leisure) can be simultaneously as good as it is adverse (Caldwell, 2005; Caldwell and Faulk, 2013; Freire, 2017). Because of these opposing views, Leisure and Adolescents’ Positive Functioning research has been considering the internal (individual and perceived characteristics) and external (activities, contexts, and environments) conditions that affect future life trajectories that begin in adolescence (Witt and Crompton, 2003; Freire et al, 2016). An emphasis on the leisure experiences and positive functioning of adolescents will be, the focus of the present study
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