Leisure Research Research Articles

Social Play? The Critical Role of Social Interaction in Geeky Games

This article is, in part, a response to previous leisure research that finds the social nature of gaming surprising and unusual. These works separate the individual benefits from the social benefits, overlooking symbolic interactionist insights into social life. As Fine (1983) describes in his seminal work on the “shared fantasy” of table-top role-playing gamers, social play is tantamount to gamers’ leisure activities. To build on more recent leisure research that establishes the importance of social gaming, we explore the social dynamics of video and table-top gamers’ leisure and its impact on their relationships. Using interview and ethnographic data from two independent studies, we examine three emergent gaming processes: gamers’ focus on social play, developing social skills, and passing games up/down to relatives and friends. Overall, this work draws attention to how gamers engage in social play, a direct contrast to gamer stereotypes still held by many non-gamers.

A re-examination of conspicuous sport consumption theory on golf and skiing from leisure involvement perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between leisure involvement (LI), conspicuous sport consumption and subjective well-being (SW) for two luxury leisure activities: golf and skiing.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data from Guangdong Province (golf, n = 342) and Jilin Province (skiing, n = 310) and examined the proposed model using structural equation modeling (SEM) and tested the mediating effect of conspicuous sport consumption using bootstrapping method.FindingsThe findings show that the proposed model explained the relationships among LI, conspicuous sport consumption and SW. Furthermore, the findings suggest that LI and conspicuous consumption (CC) can elevate sport participants' perception of SW, enriching leisure-class theory.Originality/valueThe authors’ findings contribute to the domain of CC in sport participant and leisure research and provide significant implications for the sport tourism marketers.

Intersectionality, substance use disorders, and leisure: Implications for conducting research examining social identities

Objective: The purpose of this conceptual paper is to explore intersectional theory and its relationship with social identity theory. This paper will offer an initial review of intersectionality in the treatment of substance use and mental health disorders, as well as its use in leisure research. This paper will then examine how intersectional theory can be applied to social identity research with individuals in substance use and mental health treatment services and their leisure experiences.Conclusions: The paper proposes that intersectional theory and social identity theory exist in a state of tension and that this tension should be accounted for when working with marginalized populations, such as those with substance use and mental health disorders.

Space tourism as an extreme leisure research object

Space tourism as an extreme leisure research object

Sentiment Analysis of Comments of American Birders during Two Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic Reveal More Negative Sentiments in the Context of Birding.

Human–nature relationships are an important aspect of leisure research. Previous studies also reported that nature-related activities have a health benefit. In this study, we surveyed US-American birdwatchers at two time points during the COVID pandemic (independent samples). During the beginning of the COVID pandemic in spring 2020, we analyzed their comments with an AI sentiment analysis. Approximately one year later (winter 2020/21), during the second wave, the study was repeated, and a second data set was analyzed. Here we show that during the ongoing pandemic, the sentiments became more negative. This is an important result because it shows that despite the positive impact of nature on mental health, the sentiments become more negative in the enduring pandemic.

Challenges of ecological momentary assessments to study family leisure: Participants’ perspectives

Scholars have documented the research tradeoffs of using ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to study daily life. Less is known about participants’ perspectives. The aim of this research note was to delineate the challenges of participating in a 14-day EMA study of family leisure described by 41 individuals (mothers, fathers, and adolescents) from 14 families to inform future family leisure studies using EMA. Participants identified three potential challenges: repetitive questions, inconvenient signals, and short response windows. Despite these challenges, the majority of participants indicated that they would recommend a similar study to others. The reality that so many families feel squeezed for time requires scholars to be aware of participants’ perspectives and make accommodations accordingly. Otherwise, advances in family leisure research and programs will be thwarted. Ecologically valid, yet time-intensive, research methods like EMA could provide rich data about how to promote fulfilling family leisure experiences and well-being.

Understanding leisure’s impacts on sources of life worth living: a multi-domain approach

ABSTRACT Although leisure’s relationships with well-being have been widely studied, the literature lacks non-Western and eudaimonic perspectives. Moreover, leisure researchers have often focused exclusively on leisure. This leaves leisure’s impacts on well-being compared to other life domains understudied. The purpose of this study is to identify various sources of ikigai or ‘life worth living’ in Japanese and to explore leisure’s influences on these sources. The secondary, thematic analysis was applied to data from 27 photo-elicitation interviews with Japanese university students. Five main themes were identified. Self referred to personal standards with which students evaluated the value of their activities and relationships. Tanoshimi, or enjoyment, provided present-focused experiences, positive short-term goals and rewards, and elements of novelty. Shigoto, or work, gave students roles, goals and motivations, and a sense of growth and achievement. Self-care replenished physical, mental, and social resources to continue tanoshimi and shigoto. In authentic relationships, students shared valuable activities with their significant others and exchanged support. Leisure allowed for self-expression, while most tanoshimi activities were deemed as leisure. Some shigoto activities were serious leisure. Leisure activities were also used to do self-care and to maintain authentic relationships.

Leisure and the “White-Savior Industrial Complex”

Representation of, and service to, “underrepresented” and “disadvantaged” groups often denote goals sought by leisure researchers and practitioners. The motivations behind these goals are varied, often harkening themes of social justice and equity. As a potential counternarrative to these motivations, the writer Teju Cole, posited the “White-Savior Industrial Complex.” While originally positioned in the context of Western humanitarian aid, Cole’s thesis that White, hegemonic groups seek to do good while also satisfying their own emotional needs can also apply to leisure research and practice. Through parallel analyses employing Cole’s framework, we identify the enactment of White Saviorism in three exemplative leisure practices: (1) international volunteer tourism, (2) diversification efforts in outdoor recreation, and (3) youth development programming in urban communities. Ultimately, our aim is to encourage leisure researchers and practitioners to engage in a critical reflection in how the field pursues equity and social justice work, and to assess conscious and unconscious biases that influence questions asked and services provided.

The discourse article: Critical examinations of timely topics in leisure research

As scientists, our curiosity for knowledge, commitment to critical thinking, and interest in intellectual discourse is rarely if ever sated. We are drawn to well-reasoned perspectives that are diff...

Capitalism, fascism, communism, social democracy and the study of leisure: comments prompted by Ken Roberts’ “Still speaking to ourselves”

ABSTRACT This paper comments on an earlier paper by Ken Roberts published in the World Leisure Journal in which he analysed the relationship between research and commentary on leisure and the tensions generated by international political environments in three periods: 1900-1939; 1945-1989; and the post-1990, post-communism, era. This paper challenges Roberts' thesis that international political environments in the respective periods significantly affected leisure research and commentary or its reception by the wider public. It is noted that much leisure analysis has been ambivalent about totalitarian regimes and has been critical of liberal capitalism rather than supportive if it. Furthermore, it is argued that wider public interest in the outputs of leisure scholars is largely influenced by relevance to the concerns of ordinary daily living and the style and media of communications used.

Hsiao Yao: A Chinese Analog of the Classical Western Idea of Leisure

Leisure is recognized as an arena in which an individual deals with fundamental human concerns including living a good life and pursuing happiness. It is therefore not peculiar to Western culture but an interest in most, if not all, cultures and societies. However, leisure researchers have been slow in acknowledging this assumption, especially with respect to the meaning of leisure in non-Western settings. The authors argue that the Chinese concept of hsiao yao is an idea and ideal akin to the Western concept of leisure, especially in its classical sense, i.e., Greek scholé, implying “the cultivation of self” and “freedom from the necessity of being occupied.” The striking concordances between these two concepts suggests that in order to make sense of the values of leisure encountered in diverse cultures, more effort must be put forth on the cross-cultural comparative study of leisure.

The case for reflexivity in quantitative survey research in leisure studies: lessons from surf research

ABSTRACT Reflexivity has become a standard practice in qualitative research to improve the trustworthiness of the results and offer a critical perspective on the researcher’s role in the study. Qualitative researchers typically position themselves in their studies, acknowledging their identity, and the ways it may have influenced the study. I argue that reflexivity should be a part of quantitative survey research as well. The imperfect nature of social science, especially leisure research, makes purely positivist research difficult, despite the emphasis on this tradition and the outward appearance of ‘objectivity’ found in quantitative research in our field. Conducting quantitative survey research with surfers can be especially ‘messy,’ because they have long been thought to have their own antiestablishment, nonconformist culture. My pragmatist-grounded research with this user group provides compelling evidence for the importance of incorporating reflexivity into survey research. The paper concludes with recommendations for quantitative leisure researchers.

국제관광학술지 ‘Tourism Management’와 국내관광학술지 ‘관광레저연구’ 영어 초록의 코퍼스 기반 연구

국제관광학술지 ‘Tourism Management’와 국내관광학술지 ‘관광레저연구’ 영어 초록의 코퍼스 기반 연구

Where have all the children gone? A review of the presence of children under 6 years in leisure publication outlets

We conducted a focused search of nine pre-determined leisure journals to (1) determine the prevalence and scope of research on children younger than 6 years (i.e., young children) published in leisure-focused outlets, (2) describe study designs and research methods used to study this age group, (3) tabulate definitions of child leisure, and (4) provide an overview of the studies’ findings. Overall, findings indicate a marked absence of young children from leisure research. Only 28 articles in almost half a century of leisure journal publications met inclusion criteria. Eight studies focused on children as the subject or participant, five articles relied on parents’ or teachers’ reports of their children’s leisure, and 15 articles studied the leisure of parents of children younger than 6 years. We conclude children’s voices are missing in leisure publications and discuss the implications this has for the study of leisure in young children and families.

Setting Our Sights on Vision: A Rationale and Research Agenda for Integrating Eye-Tracking into Leisure Research

Predictive models of leisure behavior typically rely on measuring internal drivers of behavior (e.g., attitudes, beliefs); however, there are an array of external forces (e.g., culture, context) that increase the predictive capacity of behavioral models. External forces can have a directly observable influence on behavior, but can also influence a person’s perceptions, judgements, and decisions without their awareness. This manuscript showcases a methodology called “eye-tracking” that can evaluate what a person sees or does not see. First, a theoretical rationale for the inclusion of eye-tracking methods into leisure research is presented, followed by a tripartite research agenda that details how eye-tracking can and should be used to evaluate, triangulate, and formulate research findings for understanding the internal-external dynamics of leisure behavior. A suite of potential research questions and outcomes are outlined to stimulate eye-tracking research in the context of leisure behavior.

Reframing mass participation events as active leisure: Implications for tourism and leisure research

This paper proposes the term ‘active leisure events’ to ameliorate fragmentation of research concerned with ‘mass-participation’ events primarily aimed at non-elite participants. This literature is characterised by semantically diverse terminology despite such events sharing a range of unifying characteristics centring around an ethos of being open to all; fundamentally encouraging participation in physical activity; embodied, self-propelled mobility; use of re-ordered space; and providing a meeting place for nuanced social worlds. Despite their commonalities, active leisure events may also exhibit considerable inter-event variability. This paper presents an integrative review of existing literature, augmented by practice examples, to support more coherent theoretical and applied research efforts in this space. Based on this integrative review, the ‘active leisure events framework’ is proposed as a conceptual reference point to facilitate coherent and informed discourse, allowing tourism and leisure researchers and practitioners to clearly identify key characteristics of the events they engage with.

Leisure boredom, leisure challenge, smartphone use, and emotional distress among U.S. college students: are they interrelated?

ABSTRACT Previous leisure researchers have investigated the effects of leisure boredom and leisure challenges on smartphone use and related health outcomes. In this study, we aimed to determine how these related constructs are associated with emotional distress (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress) among college students. A convenience sample of 601 college students completed online surveys. The results show that leisure boredom was positively related to smartphone use and emotional distress, leisure challenge was negatively related to smartphone use and emotional distress, and smartphone use was negatively related to emotional distress. This study suggests that experiencing leisure boredom may be a contributing factor to college students’ excessive smartphone use and emotional distress (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress), while leisure challenge may reduce their smartphone use and emotional distress.

A Comparative Analysis of Race and Mattering in Leisure Literature

The purpose of this study was to examine the progression of discourse on race within leisure studies scholarship through the lens of racecraft and the construct of mattering. The Journal of Leisure Research as well as Schole were examined within the periods of the 1990s (1989–2000) and the 2010s (2009–2019). Articles were chosen based upon their employment of the keywords of community recreation, youth development, and race within both time periods, yielding a total of 99 articles that were examined. A discourse historical approach (DHA) was utilized to assess the impact of the socio-political context on leisure research as well as the development of discourse on race. Through DHA techniques and the concept of racecraft, this study classified articles under five overarching themes: Faint mentions of race, racialization in the negative, improper terminology use, intentionality of race, and inadequate lens of problem/solution. Based upon the findings, leisure literature has displayed minimal progression in its conceptualizations of race. Leisure studies scholarship reflects the dominant discourse through its latent ideology of racism that maintains marginalization of various racialized ethnic groups. It is posited that, without institutional examination and targeted mitigation efforts, the field of leisure will continue to uphold a detrimental racial order with an underdeveloped political and historical stance on race.

Still speaking to ourselves: leisure studies in a wilderness of multiple modernities

ABSTRACT During the last 30 years, leisure scholars have tended to split into specialists on sport, tourism, and other “little leisures”. Meanwhile, the voices of scholars who continue to write about “big leisure” rarely travel beyond their own networks. This paper explains how leisure research and theory commanded wider audiences during the early and mid-twentieth century. This was in binary international political contexts in which democracies and fascist countries, then after 1945 capitalism and communism, each claimed to be offering a superior way of life. Since the “revolutions from below” in 1989, a binary has been absent. The capitalist market economy has spread globally, with no serious competitor. However, traditional national and religious cultures have not weakened. Also, the present-day world contains a mix of liberal democracies, managed democracies, and autocratic dynasties. We have entered an era of multiple modernities. Up to now, none have needed the theories and evidence of leisure scholars to legitimize the regimes. However, this paper identifies an emergent binary, created by economic competition between super-powers in South and East Asia and the West, which offer contrasting conceptions of a good life. It is argued that engagement with these differences is a route to renewed political relevance for global leisure studies in the 2020s and beyond.

A people’s history of leisure studies: a historiography of four traditions of critical leisure studies

ABSTRACT Recent calls for papers in numerous academic journals within leisure studies have focused on a global and nation-specific climate that leans towards autocratic policy development, fascist rhetoric as the norm, and a greater expansion of a neoliberal philosophy. A critical leisure approach critiques leisure studies and leisure research for what the construction of leisure is in its origin and in its function. The aim of this discussion is to present counter, critical narratives to leisure studies. Two hundred and ninety-two texts that focused on the ‘critical’ in leisure were read and analyzed through critical discourse analysis and political discourse analysis. The analysis resulted in a historiography that articulates four key alternative or counter traditions: Critical Leisure Studies; New Leisure; Post-Leisure Studies; and Anti-Leisure, which could aid leisure studies into taking on a role as a ‘new’ cultural studies.