Role Of Leisure Research Articles

Farmers’ Perception of Shelter Forests and the Influencing Factors in Windy Desert Areas of the Hexi Corridor, China

Shelter forest systems in the sandy areas mainly comprise farmland shelter forests (FSF) and windbreak and sand-fixing forests (WSF). Through a questionnaire survey of farmers in the oasis–desert transition zone of the windy desert areas of the Hexi Corridor in China, a perception assessment model of farmers’ perception of the status quo and ecosystem service function of shelter forests was constructed, and the willingness of farmers to pay for shelter forest construction and protection was measured. Influencing factors for the farmers’ perception of shelter forests were analyzed by a multiple regression analysis. The results showed problems with pests and diseases all present in FSF and WSF, the destruction of farmland in FSF, and water scarcity in WSF. Farmers evaluated the ecological role of shelter forests as the most obvious in windbreak and sand fixation; intermediate in the four ecological roles of leisure and recreation, agricultural production, a sense of locality, and climate regulation; and the smallest in soil improvement. Nearly 95% of farmers are willing to donate funds to shelter forest construction and protection, and the average amount the farmers were willing to pay was CNY 54.30 per year. Willingness to pay, annual household income, gender, environmental experience, age, and interview area have significant effects on farmers’ perception of shelter forests. Finally, in this paper, we recommend increasing motivation through government financial support and training for farmers to address pests and diseases, water security, and the destruction of farmland in shelter forests to ensure healthy and sustainable growth.

Improving youth well-being and social integration: the role of leisure in organized public spaces in Kazakhstan

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of youth participation in organized public spaces on the well-being and social integration of young people in Kazakhstan, with a focus on leisure activities. Through empirical research and analysis, the research aims to elucidate how active engagement in these spaces influences the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of youth. The study involved 420 students from one of Kazakhstan's universities and divided them into the influence and control groups. The research tools were the Youth Well-Being Scale (YWBS) and the Youth Social Integration Scale (YSIS). The influence group demonstrated a significant increase in well-being and social integration. This result confirms the significant positive effect of interventions based on leisure activities in public spaces. The study offers practical recommendations for improving the well-being and social integration of young people. These findings also contribute to the scientific understanding of the gender specifics in this context. The article emphasizes the importance of organizing public space for positive youth development through leisure due to the identified positive effects. Keywords: leisure; public spaces; social integration; well-being; youth

What does leisure have to do with mental health – arts, creative and leisure practices and living with mental distress

ABSTRACT There is a growing interest in the role of leisure, arts and creative activities in cultivating health and wellbeing across different contexts. Leisure sports have historically been considered beneficial for achieving health, and similar focus has recently been placed on arts and creativity. Recent research into the role of arts and creative engagement for wellbeing highlights the benefits of these modes of engagement on emotional wellbeing and social connectedness. In this article, we examine the ways arts, creative and leisure practices and mental health converge, co-exist and collide. We draw on feminist leisure studies scholarship and Sarah Ahmed’s work on emotion to discuss insights from our research into the everyday experiences of people living with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). We utilise qualitative methods to investigate people’s experiences of meaningful leisure practices and the dynamics between leisure practices and living well with the distress. We explore how leisure activities initiate complex processes of discovery and production of meanings, identity and wellbeing. Our discussion emphasises that leisure practices contribute to producing everyday forms of self-care and provide transformative space for self-discovery yet are simultaneously inseparable from the politics of living with mental distress while navigating accumulated effects of distress.

Leisure studies and occupational therapy in Latin America: a scoping review

ABSTRACT This study explores the role of leisure in occupational therapy within Latin America, recognising its importance for health, well-being, and participation. Despite its significance, investment in this area is limited in the region. Using various databases and sources like Web of Science, PubMed, and others, alongside theses, dissertations, and books, a scoping review was conducted without time constraints. Employing Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR checklist, 30 eligible references were identified out of 2,276 retrieved. Primarily qualitative and mostly from Brazil, these studies revealed four conceptions of leisure: sociocultural, self-motivated occupation during free time, attitude, and subjectivity with “life production.” The findings indicate a promising but emerging body of research. Emphasis is placed on fostering research agendas through establishing networks and scholarly events dedicated to this theme. It is suggested that occupational therapy researchers create consistent dialogues with leisure studies; commit to the theoretical development of leisure based on the findings of theoretical and empirical research; diversify the analytical scale, including collective and structural processes related to leisure; and invest in creating networks of researchers and scientific events around the theme.

Training of Physical Education and Sports Specialists for the Organization of Active Leisure in Places of Mass Recreation of the Population

The purpose of the article is to update the role of active leisure in preserving the health of the population, popularizing a healthy lifestyle, and analyzing the specifics of the training of physical education and sports specialists for the organization of active leisure in places of mass recreation of the population. The issue of professional training of physical education and sports specialists has been updated in the context of the expansion of the areas of sports and health work with various population groups and the organization of active leisure. The orientations of professional training for specialists in physical education and sports recreational and recreational activities have been determined, the main aspects of training specialists in the field of physical culture and sports have been revealed. Approaches in the process of training physical education and sports specialists to the organization of active leisure (epistemological, axiological, systemic, personal, activity-based, and competence-based) are highlighted. The content of the training of physical education and sports specialists for the organization of active leisure in places of mass recreation has been determined (understanding of the basic concepts, legal bases and program and normative requirements for the organization of active leisure of the population; availability of systemic and integral knowledge regarding the forms and methods of organizing active leisure; the formation of relevant beliefs, views, value attitudes, social norms, positive motivation; integration of theoretical and practical tools; ability to independently design means of sports and health activities, etc.).

Exploring the relationship between self-perceived academic performance and entrepreneurial intention: the moderating roles of serious leisure, perceived stress and gender

PurposeDrawing on a framework of conservation of resources theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between self-perceived academic performance and individual entrepreneurial intention and consider the potential moderating role of (1) participation in serious leisure, (2) perceived stress and/or (3) gender.Design/methodology/approachA total of 405 UK-based undergraduates completed the questionnaire, with a representative gender split of 57% women and 43% men.FindingsThe positive relationship between self-perceived academic performance and individual entrepreneurial intention was moderated by serious leisure (stronger when participation in serious leisure increased) and by perceived stress (stronger when levels of perceived stress were lower). However, contrary to our expectations, gender had no statistically significant moderating role.Practical implicationsThe practical contribution comes from informing policy for universities and national governments to increase individual entrepreneurial intention in undergraduates.Originality/valueThe theoretical contribution comes from advancing conservation of resources theory, specifically the interaction of personal resources, resource caravans and resource passageways.

Involvement of the population in active leisure (on the example of the social project «Active Parks»)

The public health system is one of the most important factors for the preservation of the human capital of the state and the further successful development of society in general. Effective involvement of the population in leading a healthy lifestyle acquires strategic importance for the country and its future, as it is a category that is realized in various senses (biological, medical, psychological, economic, social, historical, cultural, social, philosophical, etc.).
 Caring for the health of the population requires focusing efforts on finding effective and efficient mechanisms to involve the population in leading a healthy lifestyle. Analysis of the experience of implementing existing practices of physical activity proves that various forms of involvement of different population groups in active leisure are an effective tool.
 The phenomenon of «population health» is considered as a multi-component construct, the structure of which combines physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and cultural components related to the vital activities of a person and society. The article reveals the role of active leisure and a healthy lifestyle for preserving and strengthening health, and describes the principles of organizing active leisure (principle of subject-subject interaction; social compliance; self-development and self-activity; integrity and mobility; innovation). An example of useful and content-filled active leisure is the social project «Active parks - locations of healthy Ukraine». The project is implemented to promote a healthy lifestyle. Successive implementation of the stages of this project guarantees positive results and contributes to increasing the level of physical activity and health of the population.

High-quality Development Model of Industrial Integration of Sports Characteristic Towns in Northeast China

Background and Aims: The integrated development of industries is an important part of promoting the supply-side reform of sports-characteristic towns in China and cultivating a new economy and new driving force for sports development. This study aimed to develop a model to operate sports tourism events in Northeast China. and to confirm the developed model by stakeholders on satisfaction, appropriateness, and practicability. Methodology: The researcher performed the following research steps. The first step was to survey the current situation of 1200 customers in 6 cities in Northeast China. After that, a total of 20 experts were interviewed. Subsequently, the researcher entered the step of gathering ideas and placing elements on different levels, involving a total of 22 experts. When confirmed by the experts, all three dimensions of elements were brought into prioritization using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) hierarchical model. Results: (1) The demand characteristics of the consumption market in small towns with sports characteristics in Northeast China are mainly young and middle-aged men with higher educational background, more knowledge worker, and higher per capita monthly household income; Most consumers have a strong sense of sports and leisure, and recognize the role of sports and leisure, but do not have a deep understanding of sports and leisure items, consumers are keen on mountain sports, water sports, air sports, and so on, most consumers stay a short time, the amount of consumption is low, to the weekend short-distance personal or family-based travel. (2) The evaluation system of influencing factors of industry integration development of the small town with sports characteristics mainly includes five first-level indexes, such as government support, technological innovation, market demand, etc., industry development guide funds, government support provisions and other 18 secondary indicators. (3) There are three most representative models in the industry integration development of small towns with sports characteristics in our country. Vertical extension mode, horizontal extension mode, mixed cross mode. Conclusion: The high-quality development model of industrial integration of sports-characteristic towns in Northeast China could be summarized as First-Level Indicators with a total of 5 aspects and Second-Level Indicators with a total of 18 aspects. All experts opined that the resulting model was reliable. When put into practice, relevant agencies could apply it.

“That Was My Power”: The Value of Physical Exercise for Migrant Women Managing Marital Breakdown

Divorce is, for many, unsettling and, for some, it can even be traumatic. In rupturing a significant intimate relationship, divorce raises difficult questions regarding one’s sense of self and life path. For migrant wives, separation takes on additional dimensions, disrupting plans for their personal lives along with their migration journeys. Divorced migrant women draw on various resources during separation and yet research has paid scant attention to the role of leisure within this. This article responds to this gap by highlighting how, for thirteen heterosexual and cisgender women who originally migrated for marriage (seven in Hong Kong and six in Melbourne, Australia), physical exercise became key to managing their marital breakdowns. Despite social differences between the women, physical exercise connected them as a group in how it offered time for contemplation; positive bodily engagement; and self-empowerment opportunities, thus revealing it to be a powerful resource for migrants faced with divorce. (150w)

Leisure practices as a factor of family conflicts (based on the materials of a sociological study in Barnaul)

The subject of this study is leisure practices as a factor of family conflicts. The relevance of studying the problem of leisure practices as a factor of family conflicts lies in the fact that family leisure has a significant impact on the relationships of family members, can improve relationships if properly organized, or aggravate conflict situations. The practical significance of the study is to increase the awareness of the adult generation about the importance of organizing family leisure, which will reduce the level of conflict in families. To study the influence of leisure practices on the occurrence of conflicts in the family, a methodology was developed and a sociological study was conducted among residents of the city of Barnaul. The study was implemented through a quantitative method of collecting information – a survey in the form of a questionnaire. In the process of scientific research, the following methods were used: descriptive method; categorization method; analysis method, as well as a survey. To study the influence of leisure practices on the occurrence of conflicts in the family, a methodology was developed and a sociological study was conducted among residents of the city of Barnaul. According to the results of the study on leisure practices as a factor of family conflicts, the following conclusions were made: Firstly, respondents prefer the consumption of different types of content as a form of family leisure. Secondly, respondents spend quite a lot of time organizing family leisure, it is logical that they are often interested in it. Thirdly, respondents believe that the main role of leisure is to strengthen and unite family members. They rarely argue about leisure, and when they argue, it is mainly because of its forms and content. Fourth, the level of conflict in the respondents' families is low. Respondents are more likely to encounter short-term and superficial conflicts, which indicates their desire to maintain close relationships.

Philosophy at Leisure: How Is Festivity Possible?

The article explores the conditions enabling the celebration within the context of philosophical, enlightening, and educational activities. The authors contemplate the role of leisure in human life, referencing Plato’s view of leisure as a prerequisite for philosophical discussion, Aristotle’s concept of intellectual leisure for the free citizen, Josef Pieper’s understanding of leisure as a means for personal and spiritual development, and Sebastian de Grazia’s perspective on the interconnection between leisure and creativity, culture, individual freedom, and society. It is argued that leisure as an intellectual activity has not become customary in society since Aristotle’s time and, in the modern world, the definition of this concept is confined merely to the realm of entertainment. This limitation necessitates the search for new forms of intellectual leisure that are relevant in the context of contemporary mass culture. The authors analyze the philosophical ball as a form of intellectual leisure, particularly focusing on the years of experience in organizing annual festive events by the family philosophical club “School of Socrates” at the Central House of Artists in Moscow. The external, attributive form of the philosophical ball is linked with Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of the carnivalization of culture: its spectacles, theatricality, the presence of masks and costumes, and the involvement of all participants in a unified action. The internal content of the philosophical ball is determined by philosophical concepts, historical figures, or artistic images relevant to the specific era and culture, facilitating the perception and discussion of the proposed philosophical ideas. The narrative is further enriched by a case study detailing the methodological orchestration of a philosophical ball themed around Russian Symbolism. The authors conclude that the philosophical ball, as a form of intellectual leisure, addresses epistemological tasks and serves enlightening and educational functions: it engenders an authentic milieu of philosophical festivity, nurturing the creative impetus of its participants and facilitating a profound and universally accessible experiential odyssey into the realms of worldview and cognition.

The Relationship between Work Stressors and Work Performance of Banking Employees: The Moderating Effect of Social Support and Leisure

Objective: This study aims to identify the influence of work stressors on work performance and the moderating role of social support and leisure in the influence of work stressors on work performance. Design/Methods/Approach: The study respondents were employees who work in various banks. Data was collected using a convenience sampling method by distributing questionnaires through Google Forms. The collected data were analyzed using SEM-AMOS. Findings: This study found that work stressors negatively affect work performance. Social support can be a coping used by individuals to reduce the negative impact of work stressors on work performance. The findings of this study indicate that social support significantly moderates the effect of work stressors on work performance. However, unlike expectations, leisure does not significantly moderate the effect of work stressors on work performance. Originality: Unlike other studies, this research considers the role of two coping strategies, i.e., social support and leisure, as moderators of the relationship between work stressors and work performance among bank employees. Existing studies still show inconsistent results regarding the relationship between work stressors and work performance and the moderating role of social support in the relationship between the two. Leisure is also rarely investigated as a moderator of the relationship between the two, especially in the context of employees who work in the bank. Practical/Policy implication: The findings of this study show the importance of companies and managers recognizing employee conditions that indicate a work stressor. They also need to identify what factors are a source of stress. As a form of concern for employees and their work performance, companies and managers need to consider strengthening social support and leisure, which can reduce the negative response of employees to work pressure.

Examining the Role of Leisure in Navigating Spousal Death: A Phenomenological Multi-Case Study of Widowhood

The current study will explore the post-pandemic bereavement window of widowed caregivers who experienced higher degrees of social isolation and the ways in which leisure was used to cope. A phenomenological multi-case study technique was used to explore the “multiple realities” among female caregivers whose social convoys suffered pre-pandemic because of spousal caregiving and were further impacted by COVID-19 mitigation strategies during the pandemic. Initial analyses utilized the two-cycle approach, as defined by Saldana. In the initial cycle, the researchers independently immersed themselves in the raw data gathered during participant interviews and engaged in open coding to discern concepts, patterns, themes, and categories associated with the multiple realities among the widows whose leisure participation was affected due to the strain of spousal caregiving and exacerbated by COVID-19 mitigation strategies. After completing the first cycle, the researchers then moved to the second phase, thematic analysis, which sought to develop a more structured framework by which to understand the data by identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns (e.g., themes) within it. A qualitative comparison technique was then employed to deepen our understanding of individuals’ lived experiences. Thematic findings revealed three areas of similarities: Social isolation from caregiving, using leisure to self-focus and explore future possibilities, and core groups.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZED LEISURE FOR THE SOCIALIZATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

The article reveals the peculiarities of social work with children with disabilities through leisure activities, focusing on the educational and recreational potential of leisure communication. The purpose of the article and the views of representatives of the scientific research school on the importance of the role of leisure in a child’s life, in adapting children to a new environment through inclusion in leisure activities and communication by interests are defined. The author of the article highlights and analyzes the problem of the importance of organized leisure, organized leisure activities in the development of social activity and creative potential of a child with a disability. The role of the leisure sphere in the socialization of children with disabilities is determined, which is based on the principles of taking into account and satisfying the interests of visitors to leisure facilities. The role of state support and the importance of assisting children with disabilities in entering the environment and society is determined.The factor of leisure as a component of free time, which captures the child with positive opportunities and inherent cognitive activity of various activities that contribute to the development of the child's personality and his or her free entry into society, is indicated. Leisure is revealed as a factor that can help restore the physical, mental and psychological strength of a child with health complications.The article reveals the leading role of the organizer of leisure activities with children with disabilities, which are focused on the disclosure of children’s natural inclinations, development and stimulation of creative initiative of children themselves. Attention is drawn to and the use of leisure activities that ensure child development and contribute to the emotional enrichment of the child is substantiated: game activities, staging of works of children's literature, various types of artistic and applied activities. It has been determined that leisure and leisure activities are one of the essential resources for optimizing the social activity of children with disabilities, have the ability to stimulate the process of their socialization, inculturation and self-realization; create conditions for the realization of the interests and needs of children, the development of their activity, creative initiative, promote the formation of a desire to find new value orientations through free choice of leisure activities.

Modernization Through Leisure and Sports: The Case of Sümerbank Industrial Campuses in Turkey

The Turkish Republican Regime exploited leisure and sports activities in terms of shaping the community in line with the modernization project of the newborn state in the early republican period of Turkey (1923–1945) wherein leisure and sports activities were organized to normalize secular life and to disconnect people from the traditional ways of life. Sümerbank industrial campuses were established as state institutions in various towns in the 1930s. They were mobilized in line with the state policy by providing sports and recreational grounds in the campuses. This article is an exploration of the role of leisure and sports in the modernization process of early Republican Turkey in the Sümerbank industrial campuses. The research is based on academic literature on leisure and sports and the social-spatial analysis of campuses so as to shed light on the role of leisure and sports activities on industrial campuses to shift the community from traditional, rural, and agricultural to contemporary, secular, urban, and industrial.

Leisure, heritage, and identity: a case study of Malaysian Chinese 24 Festive Drums performance

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the relationships among leisure, heritage, and identity through the case study of Malaysian Chinese 24 Festive Drums Performance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 respondents who were members of the Chinese diaspora from Malaysia currently studying in China and practising 24 Festive Drums as their leisure activity. The findings showed that the three components are interrelated: (a) as identity carrier, heritage confirmed identity, while identity helped to spread the heritage; (b) identity served as a motivation for leisure, which in turn increased leisure participation and strengthened identity; (c) heritage was promoted as leisure practice, which further developed as serious leisure. This study has theoretical contributions in developing a triangular model of interrelationships between leisure, heritage, and identity. Furthermore, practical implications were discussed on demonstrating the potential of the role of leisure in heritage promotion and identity construction.

Leisure as social engagement: does it moderate the association between subjective wellbeing and depression in later life?

To investigate the role of leisure (as social engagement) in moderating the association between subjective wellbeing and depressive symptoms among older Indians. The sample included data from 39,538 older adults (aged 55-80) from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI, Wave-1), 2017-2018. Individual level questionnaire was used to examine the relationship among social engagement, subjective wellbeing, and depressive symptoms. Moderating effects of leisure activities were estimated through interaction analysis and linear multivariable modeling. Low participation in social engagement activities (or leisure) was associated with greater likelihood of depressive symptoms. Leisure activities positively and significantly moderated the subjective wellbeing among older adults with depressive symptoms. Results suggest a significant wealth gradient where affluent older Indians having a clear advantage in heightened levels of social engagement and subsequently lower likelihood of depressive symptoms. Additionally, being in an urban area, co-residence in a "joint" household and belonging to the dominant social groups in terms of caste and religious categories are associated with gains in wellbeing. The direct and indirect effects of social engagement suggest that depressive symptoms can be mitigated while enhancing overall wellbeing of older adults. This holds promise for social policy in redirecting efforts to develop age-friendly initiatives and social infrastructure that enhance the link between engagement and wellbeing.

Pious Pleasure? Church-Based Leisure in a Working-Class Community, East Oxford 1870–1914

ABSTRACT Centred on the growing working-class district of East Oxford, this paper makes a detailed analysis of how church-based leisure was organised and experienced in the period c.1870–1914 to discover what role it played for those it involved. Making use of church magazines (themselves little-used sources), it challenges the assumption that all working classes in this period had access to commercial leisure, contests the notion that church leisure was a tool of the middle classes to improve and contain working-class leisure time, and demonstrates the reach of church-based leisure beyond its religious mandate. The paper argues that the development of church-based leisure in East Oxford was born of its socioeconomic context and shaped by the local community into an affordable, accessible and inclusive means of collective enjoyment and personal achievement, sustained by creative and diverse financial strategies. Rather than reflecting a discrete church culture distinct from that of secular entertainment, the research reveals a complex interaction between spheres of influence reaching far beyond church and chapel. The way in which church-based leisure functioned in East Oxford brought clear benefits both to individuals and to the wider community––benefits which could not be accessed through commercial leisure––and demonstrate the unique role of church leisure in a working-class suburb, a function hitherto unexplored and poorly understood.

Understanding the Role of Leisure in Portuguese Adolescent Wellbeing Experience

Because adolescent leisure is important to development, we consider its role in Portuguese adolescent wellbeing. Data for this study came from 303 adolescents in grades 10, 11, and 12 living in a large urban area in northern Portugal. Self-report data were collected in classrooms using a cross-sectional design in two urban high schools. Hypothesis testing used seven hierarchical linear regression models. Except for subjective happiness, experiencing boredom in leisure and/or the ability to make a boring situation more interesting were strong predictors of each wellbeing experience in the predicted direction. Perceptions of healthy leisure were associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, subjective happiness, self-esteem, and positive affect. Active leisure was important to adolescent self efficacy and positive affect. Those who could restructure a boring situation into something more interesting exhibited higher levels of wellbeing experience. Adolescents who perceived parental autonomy control were more likely to experience boredom in leisure.

Экосистема социальных услуг и жизнедеятельность семьи в условиях цифрового перехода

Using the example of the institution of the family and the system of social services, the article considers a variant of social policy in the context of The Foundations of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values. The author analyzes the complex of subjective and objective factors affecting the stability of the family, the role of family and marital leisure. Based on the active trend of socialization of family functions and the specifics of the behavior of the modern family, the author formulates a conceptual framework of social policy. He shows that its aim is formation of territorial ecosystems of social services built on the base of a new understanding of a social object, a digital aggregator platform and a set of private and public-municipal service providers.