Types Of Leisure, Leisure Motivation, And Well-being In University Students With An Empahisis On Physical Activity

Abstract

It is well-documented that leisure is conducive to psychological well-being for a variety of population. However, a scarcity of research on types of leisure influenced by individual attributes and health status as well as contributing factors for leisure satisfaction. PURPOSE: The research aims to investigate the types of leisure influenced by individual attributes and health status as well as the contributing factors for leisure satisfaction. METHODS: Cross sectional data were collected by administering Leisure Satisfaction Scale (LSS), Leisure Motivation Scale (LMS), Types of Leisure Scale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Health Risk Survey, and Demographic Survey including Body Mass Index (BMI) to 199 university students. RESULTS: Leisure satisfaction was inversely correlated with perceived stress (r = -.21, p < .01) and amotivation (r = -.23, p = .01). Perceived stress was positively associated with amotivation (r = .23, p < .05). Stepwise multiple regression shows that intrinsic leisure motivation was a single strong predictor for leisure satisfaction even after controlling for elementary school leisure, high school leisure, extrinsic leisure motivation, and perceived stress [b = .83, β = .71, t = 4.72, p < .01]. Interaction analyses in multiple regression demonstrate that there was a significant interaction between BMI and social support, which indicates that the impact of BMI on active leisure differs depending on levels of social support (Δ R2 = .048, F [1, 138] = 7.02, p = .009). There was a significant interaction between BMI and perceived stress, indicating the impact of BMI on passive leisure differs depending on perceived stress (Δ R2 = .034, F [1,148] = 5.23, p < .05). CONCLUSION: Intrinsic leisure motivation appears to influence leisure satisfaction, which may lead to lowered levels of stress. Conversely, leisure apathy (amotivation) may lead to elevated levels of perceived stress. University students with high BMI do not tend to engage in physically active leisure in the presence of high perceived social support. Also, university students with high BMI were more likely to engage in passive leisure in the presence of low stress levels. These findings could shed light on the motivational strategies health care providers can use to support health-promoting leisure activities such as physical activity.