Thriving through stress: leisure satisfaction, hope, growth, and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT Leisure can serve as a resource for managing stress and eliciting positive thoughts and emotions, which contribute to well-being. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between leisure satisfaction, hope, stress-related growth (SRG), and psychological well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 547 U.S. residents completed an online survey in July 2020. A series of path analyses were used to examine six hypotheses. The results showed leisure satisfaction positively impacts SRG and enhances hope. One surprising finding is the negative relationship between leisure and psychological well-being, which is worthy of further investigation. The study highlights the importance of leisure in generating positive emotions about the future, and the role of hope in mediating the relationship between pleasurable leisure experiences and SRG during periods of adversity.