Maintaining Active Lifestyle Through Pickleball: A Qualitative Exploration of Older Pickleball Players

This study aimed to explore the experiences of older adults engaged in pickleball. In particular, we collected views from the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) ambassadors to identify how their experiences facilitate successful aging. A qualitative case study was utilized to obtain naturalistic data. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a total of 15 USAPA ambassadors, all of whom were interviewed in person. Data were analyzed using interpretive thematic analysis, and four overarching themes were generated: (a) a new way to stay active, (b) pickleball is social, (c) an intergenerational pastime, and (d) reestablishing an identity through pickleball. The findings support the view that engaging in pickleball is a promising means of achieving a healthy life as a senior citizen. The participants maintained a physically and mentally active lifestyle through pickleball, and their commitment to this sport led to their engagement as ambassadors in their communities.

Lived experience of using assistive technology for sandy beach based leisure for Australian people with mobility limitations

PURPOSE

This study explores experiences of using beach assistive technology (AT), such as beach wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, prosthetics and crutches, to participate in sandy beach-based leisure for people with mobility limitations.

METHODS

Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 people, with mobility limitations and experience of using Beach AT. A phenomenological interpretative hermeneutic approach guided reflexive thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts.

FINDINGS

Three overarching themes were identified as: The meaning of using Beach AT, Practicalities of using Beach AT and Responses to using Beach AT. Each overarching theme was underpinned by subthemes. Meaning included: AT connects me, AT impacts my identity and AT attracts attention. Practicalities included: using AT requires other people, AT impacts spontaneity, AT limitations and AT use differs in water. Responses to using Beach AT included: I didn't think it was possible, adaptions to AT limitations and not everyone wants to own Beach AT.

CONCLUSION

This study illustrates the use of Beach AT as a facilitator for beach leisure, enabling connections to social groups and contributing to one's identity as a beachgoer. Access to Beach AT is meaningful and may be made possible through personal Beach AT ownership or access to loaned AT. The unique nature of sand, water, and salt environments requires users to identify how they plan to use the devices, with realistic expectations that the Beach AT may not enable full independence. The study acknowledges the challenges related to size, storage, and propulsion, but emphasizes that these can be overcome through ingenuity.

Initial evaluation of an environment-based intervention for participation of autistic children: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of environment-based intervention on participation outcomes and parent efficacy in autistic children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one autistic children 6-10 years old and their parents were randomized to environment-based intervention (n = 11) or usual care (n = 10). The environment-based intervention targets individualized participation goals in leisure and community activities through changing environment and activity demands. The study outcomes were Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Goal attainment scaling (GAS), and Parent Empowerment and Efficacy Measure (PEEM). Assessments included baseline, 12 weeks (post-test), and 24 weeks (follow-up). Mixed ANOVAs were used to examine within-group and between-group effects in outcome variables.

RESULTS

The COPM performance and satisfaction scores and GAS T-scores increased after environment-based intervention from baseline to 12 weeks and 24 weeks (p < 0.001) but did not significantly differ from usual care. The medium to large effect sizes of COPM performance and GAS T-scores favored the environment-based intervention. For the PEEM scores, no significant differences were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Environment-based intervention may support school-age autistic children to participate in self-chosen activities over time. The intervention effects on participation goals and parent efficacy, however, were inconclusive and need further research.

Initiatives to facilitate the social inclusion of people with intellectual disability in physical activities with others in community-based sporting, recreation and leisure activities: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

While barriers to participation in physical activity are well documented, there is no consolidated evidence on strategies promoting participation of people with intellectual disability in physical activities.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review to examine initiatives used to facilitate the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in community-based sporting and recreation activities. We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL+ and PsycINFO for articles published in English between 2000 and 2022.

RESULTS

Eight articles were included. Initiatives included: (1) building knowledge, awareness and attitudinal change (2) organisational alliances/partnerships (3) relationship-building (4) modifications/adaptions to activities/environment (5) organisational policy (6) engagement with people with disability. Initiatives were implemented through international collaborations, in local fitness/recreational facilities and public spaces, and targeted athletes, coaches, volunteers and organisational leaders.

CONCLUSION

While some increase in awareness and inclusion of people with intellectual disability was reported, no longitudinal data reported on the impact of initiatives on sustained social inclusion for people with intellectual disability.

Understanding mental health promotion in organized leisure communities for young people: a realist review

Introduction

A large proportion of young people reports poor mental health, which is a major public health concern. Positive mental health is important for young people's development, quality of life, functioning in everyday life, and long-term possibilities. Thus, there is a great need to develop and implement mental health-promoting initiatives and activities in young people's lives. Participating in organized leisure communities has a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. However, more knowledge is still needed about why and how participating in organized leisure communities targeting young people can promote mental health. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge about the mental health-promoting potential of organized leisure communities for young people by exploring the active ingredients that contribute to mental health promotion.

Method

Given the complexity of the subject, this study implemented a realist review approach to explore the interaction between context, mechanism, and outcome. The study follows Pawsons' five key steps for conducting a realist review: (1) clarify scope, (2) search for evidence, (3) study selection criteria, and procedures, (4) data extraction, and (5) data synthesis and analysis. The literature was systematically searched in the four databases PsycINFO, Scopus, Embase, and SocIndex.

Results

In the literature search, a total of 11,249 studies were identified, of which 52 studies met the inclusion criteria. Based on the 52 studies, seven different contexts i.e., types of organized leisure communities for young peoples were identified. Across the seven different types of organized leisure communities, five active ingredients that promoted the mental health of young people were identified: social connectedness, development of skills, development of self-confidence, pleasure-driven participation, and safety and trust.

Conclusion

This review contributes important knowledge about how to promote young people's mental health when participating in organized leisure communities. Moving forward, an important task consists of establishing and maintaining the five active ingredients in organized leisure communities through e.g., education and training that strengthens the skills and knowledge of those responsible for facilitating the leisure communities, such as sports coaches or music teachers, as these adults play a central role in supporting the active ingredients.

"It Doesn't Die Within You": Outdoor Recreation Participation Following Spinal Cord Injury

Although some people with spinal cord injury (SCI) return to outdoor recreation, many have low activity levels and encounter significant environmental barriers. The purpose of the study was to describe how people with SCI engage in outdoor recreation activities, what meaning they attribute to these, and to inform occupational therapists in promoting outdoor recreation post-SCI. The study used qualitative, descriptive phenomenology. Thirteen participants completed semi-structured interviews, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Outdoor recreation contributes to personal well-being. It is a way to share life with loved ones and other disabled people. Having the right equipment and using a trial-and-error approach facilitated participation, which was sometimes supported and frequently constrained by physical, built, and information environments. Findings suggest implications for occupational therapists in the areas of direct intervention, entrepreneurship, and advocacy. These are consistent with the American Occupational Therapy Association Vision 2025 to collaborate for inclusion and accessibility in occupational performance.

Third Agers in India: Empirical Evidence From Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), 2017-2018

Given that the ontological origins of the Third Age lie in the cultural logics of social class, consumer society and "habitus," a majority of its gerontological examination is qualitative in nature. We utilize the recently released Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017-2018) and harness the time-use module to offer an empirical portrait of Third Agers in India. Considering that the aging scholarship in India has been often articulated in the empirical language of dependency, care regimes, and (economic) insecurity, we believe this examination allows us to shift the gerontological gaze from a risk perspective to one that is positive and affirmative. Following an exploratory factor analysis and nested linear regression, we corroborate the emergence of a "silver market" where educated, urban, affluent, and professionally qualified older Indians are the ones who are more likely to engage in active leisure pursuits. Noteworthy is the combined effects of wealth and professional education in determining who is ultimately able to "purchase" leisure in a highly segmented emerging senior market. In all, we conclude by discussing how these findings upend our cultural imagination around growing old in contemporary India.

Leisure Engagement Among People Living With Acquired Brain Injury: A Scoping Review

Return to previously valued occupations is a common goal of individuals following acquired brain injury (ABI). However, the focus of rehabilitation is often on self-care and productivity occupations. Return to leisure should be a priority of rehabilitation to support a person's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being. Consequently, the aim of this article was to review the research evidence on engagement in leisure occupations among community-dwelling adults living with ABI. A six-step scoping review was conducted searching five databases. Articles were included if they focused on leisure engagement post-stroke or traumatic brain injury. Seventeen studies were included. Leisure engagement decreased post-ABI with engagement primarily in solitary, sedentary, cognitively inactive, home-based leisure. Leisure engagement was impacted by personal and contextual factors. The findings identify a need to focus on and address changes to leisure following ABI, with exploration of why these changes have occurred beyond personal factors.

Examining Procedural Variations of Delivering Competing Stimuli in the Treatment of Stereotypy

Competing stimulus assessments (CSA) are effective tools for identifying stimuli that compete with automatically reinforced behavior. However, Jennett et al. suggests there are cases for which non-contingent access to competing stimuli are insufficient at decreasing target responding and additional treatment components may be necessary. The purpose of the current study was to examine procedural variations (i.e., rotating competing items and prompted engagement) when presenting competing stimuli on increasing functional engagement and decreasing stereotypy. Following a functional analysis, a CSA was conducted to identify competing stimuli for four individuals with autism. Items identified were then used with two procedural variations. Levels of stereotypy, functional engagement, and item contact were measured. Results showed that for two participants both treatments were effective, while for the other two participants prompting functional engagement was more effective. Prompting functional engagement is likely a productive strategy for enhancing engagement with competing stimuli for automatically reinforced problem behavior as it may result in functional engagement becoming reinforcing in and of itself.

Young women's leisure time physical activity determinants: a mixed methods approach

Introduction

The aim of the study was to analyze the habits, motives and barriers related to Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) among young women of Gipuzkoa, from a mixed approach.

Methods

A total of 526 women aged 18-29 (24.60 ± 3.30 years) responded to the Gipuzkoa Women's Physical Activity Questionnaire (GWPAQ), seven of which were later interviewed.

Results

The main motives for LTPA were intrapersonal - related to health and enjoyment - and to interpersonal networks. However, the main barriers facing LTPA were mostly intrapersonal, such as lack of time, tiredness, and laziness. Contextual factors such as the availability of safe spaces, previous negative experiences, or negative self-perception of motor competence also emerged as conditioning factors in young women's LTPA habits.

Discussion

This study may help to promote policies aimed at incentivizing LTPA for young women based on their needs and interests, by addressing the diversity of factors.

Not Just One Long Vacation: Revisiting the Importance of Lifestyle Planning in the Transition to Retirement

BACKGROUND

There is a need to further understand the nature and role of planning for one's lifestyle in retirement.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine retirement planning and how it impacts perceived preparedness and satisfaction with the retirement transition, as well as to explore personal experiences of retirement.

METHODS

Canadians (n = 748) fully or partly retired participated in an online survey that included quantitative questions about perceived retirement preparedness and satisfaction and open-ended questions about retirement goals, fears, challenges, and advice.

FINDINGS

Results determined that while both financial and lifestyle planning were significant predictors of higher perceived preparedness, only lifestyle planning was a significant predictor for satisfaction. Overall, no gender differences were detected. Open-ended comments highlighted the importance of planning for one's lifestyle in retirement, including meaningful activities and social connections.

DISCUSSION

Individualized career advising as well as group-based educational programs or peer-assisted learning initiatives appear warranted to support people in planning for their lifestyle in retirement.

Investigation of the Consumer Perspective on Leisure in Mental Health Inpatient Units

This study aimed to explore the barriers to engagement in activity and consumer satisfaction in inpatient settings. Participants were current inpatient consumers and completed an online anonymous survey. This included the Mental Health Satisfaction Improvement Program (MHSIP), Leisure Boredom Scale (LBS), and the Checklist of Leisure Interests and Participation (CLIP). A total of 57 participants partially completed the survey with 41 completed responses. Participants reported several barriers to engagement, including lack of staff, limited social engagement, limited range of activity, and a lack of resources. Most participants reported to be either "very satisfied" (24.24%) or "somewhat satisfied" (36.36%) with the level of activity offered. Participants reported to be bored due to a limited occupational range offered in the mental health inpatient unit. Participants identified the need for assistance in the facilitation of activity.

Investigating Differences in Personality Traits, Self-Esteem, Eating Attitudes, and Body Image among Participants in Indoor and Outdoor Fitness Activities

Physical activity environments influence physical condition, nutrition, individual and social behaviors, and emotional well-being. The aim of the study was to investigate differences in eating attitudes, self-esteem, personality traits, and body image among participants in indoor and outdoor leisure-time fitness programs. Participants included 1747 adults (882 men and 865 women) aged 34 ± 9.2 years, divided into experimental and control groups. All participants completed the Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test 26 (EAT-26), the Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Traits Personality Questionnaire 5 (TPQue5), and the Appearance Scales of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ-AS). The results revealed statistically significant differences between groups. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed noteworthy variations in personality trait scores between the groups (neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness) as well as body image factors (self-esteem and eating attitudes). Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between gender and participation in different types of exercise. Females had lower self-esteem and body area satisfaction scores but higher eating disorder proneness, neuroticism, appearance evaluation, and overweight preoccupation scores than males. These findings add to the current literature focusing on the psychosocial and behavioral mechanisms associated with physical activity and exercise environments. The findings provide an effective supplement to promote public health-focused fitness programs and leisure-time physical activity motivation strategies.

Noise exposure and the risk of cancer: a comprehensive systematic review

The association between noise exposure and increased risk of cancer has received little attention in the field of research. Therefore, the goal of this study was to conduct a systematic review on the relationship between noise exposure and the incidence of cancer in humans. In this study, four electronic bibliographic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched up to 21 April 2022. All types of noise exposure were considered, including environmental noise, occupational noise, and leisure or recreational noise. Furthermore, all types of cancers were studied, regardless of the organs involved. In total, 1836 articles were excluded on the basis of containing exclusion criteria or lacking inclusion criteria, leaving 19 articles retained for this study. Five of nine case-control studies showed a significant relationship between occupational or leisure noise exposure and acoustic neuroma. Moreover, four of five case-control and cohort studies indicated statistically significant relationships between environmental noise exposure and breast cancer. Of other cancer types, two case-control studies highlighted the risk of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and two cohort studies identified an increased risk of colon cancer associated with environmental noise exposure. No relationship between road traffic and railway noise and the risk of prostate cancer was observed. In total, results showed that noise exposure, particularly prolonged and continuous exposure to loud noise, can lead to the incidence of some cancers. However, confirmation of this requires further epidemiological studies and exploration of the exact biological mechanism and pathway for these effects.

Implementation of a leisure reintegration programme for people with acquired brain injury in a community rehabilitation programme: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Participation in leisure activities is significantly impacted following acquired brain injury (ABI). Despite this being a common community rehabilitation goal, re-engagement with leisure activities following ABI is poorly addressed within Australian community rehabilitation services, which often cater to a mixed-diagnostic group of both ABI and non-ABI clients.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the feasibility and effect of a leisure reintegration group programme within a community rehabilitation service.

METHOD

A single-site, pre- and post-test feasibility study was conducted. Three cohorts of a semi-structured leisure group programme were offered, each conducted over eight sessions within 4 weeks. The Nottingham Leisure Questionnaire (NLQ) and Leisure Satisfaction Measure (LSM) were used as primary outcome measures. Measures of acceptability, including adherence, and a post-intervention participant survey were also completed.

RESULTS

Of the 14 consenting participants, 9 completed all outcome measures. Mean change score for the NLQ was -3.63 (p = 0.11) and the LSM 4.25 (p = 0.46). The programme was well attended (79%), acceptable for ABI and non-ABI participants and able to be implemented within an existing community rehabilitation service.

CONCLUSION

Providing a leisure reintegration group programme met an identified need, developed client and carer capacity and could be delivered within a community rehabilitation service for clients with mixed diagnoses including ABI. A larger trial is warranted to examine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this intervention for people with ABI.

Definitions of Solitude in Everyday Life

What does it mean to be in solitude? Researchers building this nascent field are learning much about the potential affordances of solitude, but lack an agreed-upon definition or set of definitions. Arriving at that meaning is crucial to forming a solid foundation for studies that use both naturalistic and laboratory designs to explore outcomes of solitude. This study identified themes from semi-structured interviews with adults aged 19 to 80 from diverse backgrounds. We concluded that solitude is a state in which the dominant relationship is with the self. If not physically alone, people in solitude are mentally distanced from others and away from active technology-mediated interactions. Complete solitude involves both physical separation and inner focus, but solitude is best defined through a taxonomy that recognizes physical separation and internal focus as independent, sufficient characteristics. An internal focus benefits from (but is not defined by) balancing solitude with social time, quiet, and choice.

Negotiating Experiences of Belonging Alongside Age-Related Life Transitions

Belonging is a pervasive human need that is vital to our well-being as we age. Ageist attitudes, stereotyping, and life transitions tend to jeopardise older adults' experiences of belonging. Although community involvement can lead to the development of social relationships that support belonging in older adulthood, little is known about how belonging is perceived and experienced by older adults. The purpose of this article is to share findings from research conducted with members of a community centre for people 50 years of age and older who shared their perceptions and experiences of belonging. Findings highlight the ways that age-related life transitions affect experiences of belonging. Findings also reveal that features of a belonging experience include feeling worthwhile, being welcomed and accepted, having opportunities for connection, and seeking to belong. We draw from these findings to suggest ways to enhance belonging for older adults.

Leisure, Recreation, and Life Satisfaction: A Longitudinal Study for People With Spinal Cord Injury

Background

Leisure and recreation (LR) are positively associated with social integration and life satisfaction in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, few studies have longitudinally observed long-term changes in LR participation among people with SCI and discussed the association of these activities with social integration and life satisfaction.

Objectives

This study aims to determine for people with SCI, within a 45-year period, the association between mobility and LR participation; the associations between LR participation and social integration and life satisfaction, respectively; and whether the association between LR participation and life satisfaction is mediated by social integration.

Methods

Growth modeling and linear mixed modeling were employed as the primary data analysis tools to explore longitudinal changes in LR participation, social integration, and life satisfaction. A mediation test was conducted to examine the potential mediation effect of social integration on the relationship between LR participation and life satisfaction.

Results

The mobility level, LR participation hours, and social integration of people with SCI decreased gradually during the 45-year period, whereas life satisfaction increased as they lived longer with the injury. LR participation was consistently and positively associated with social integration and life satisfaction of people with SCI. A mediation effect by social integration was observed between LR and life satisfaction.

Conclusion

A decline in mobility level was associated with a decrease in LR participation over time for people with SCI. Engaging in LR activities regularly and maintaining a certain level of social interaction are consistently and positively associated with long-term life satisfaction.

Leisure education to leadership: Youth with physical disabilities' experiences in South Africa

Introduction

Young people with physical disabilities frequently lack opportunities to develop their leadership potential. These include their ability to make decisions and be able to take charge of their leisure programmes. An argument is made that developing leadership skills for youth with physical disabilities can be facilitated by participating in leisure education programmes.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to explore youth with physical disabilities' perceptions of how leisure education can be used as a tool to develop their leadership.

Method

This study used a descriptive qualitative research design to collect data using the purposive sampling method from 10 youths with physical disabilities aged 18 to 34 years in the Western Cape, South Africa. One-on-one interviews with semi-structured and open-ended questions were used to collect data for this study.

Results

The findings of this study include 4 main themes and 11 sub-themes. This study's findings showed that participants' perceptions and experiences were evidence of leisure education being used to build their capacity as leaders within their society. Furthermore, their understanding of how they apply leadership opportunities is an encouraging moment for their development.

Conclusion

Leisure education should be considered as a means to promote leadership in youth with physical disabilities in South Africa.

Contribution

Knowledge and experience about youth with physical disabilities, their leisure education experiences and skills development during activities.

Context and Expectations Matter: Social, Recreational, and Independent Functioning among Youth with Psychosis in Chennai, India and Montreal, Canada

OBJECTIVES

Most cross-cultural psychosis research has focused on a limited number of outcomes (generally symptom-related) and perspectives (often clinician-/observer-rated). It is unknown if the purported superior outcomes for psychosis in some low- and middle-income countries extend to patient-reported measures of social, recreational, and independent functioning. Addressing this gap, this study aimed to compare these outcomes in first-episode psychosis at a high-income site and a lower middle-income site.

METHODS

Patients receiving similarly designed early intervention for psychosis in Chennai, India (N = 164) and Montreal, Canada (N = 140) completed the self-reported Social Functioning Scale-Early Intervention, which measures prosocial, recreation, and independence-performance functioning. Their case managers rated expected independence-performance functioning. Both sets of assessments were done at entry and Months 6, 18, and 24. Linear mixed model analyses of differences between sites and over time were conducted, accounting for other pertinent variables, especially negative symptoms.

RESULTS

Linear mixed models showed that prosocial, recreation, and independence-performance functioning scores were significantly higher in Montreal than Chennai and did not change over time. Expected independence-performance was also higher in Montreal and increased over time. Negative symptoms and education independently predicted prosocial, recreation, and expected independence-performance functioning. When added to the model, expected independence-performance predicted actual independence-performance and site was no longer significant. At both sites, prosocial and recreation scores were consistently lower (<40%) than independence-performance (40-65%).

CONCLUSION

This is the first cross-cultural investigation of prosocial, recreation, and independent functioning in early psychosis. It demonstrates that these outcomes differ by socio-cultural context. Differing levels of expectations about patients, themselves shaped by cultural, illness, and social determinants, may contribute to cross-cultural variations in functional outcomes. At both sites, social, recreational, and independent functioning were in the low-to-moderate range and there was no improvement over time, underscoring the need for effective interventions specifically designed to impact these outcomes.

Deprivation, essential and non-essential activities and SARS-CoV-2 infection following the lifting of national public health restrictions in England and Wales

Background

Individuals living in deprived areas in England and Wales undertook essential activities more frequently and experienced higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection than less deprived communities during periods of restrictions aimed at controlling the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant. We aimed to understand whether these deprivation-related differences changed once restrictions were lifted.

Methods

Among 11,231 adult Virus Watch Community Cohort Study participants multivariable logistic regressions were used to estimate the relationships between deprivation and self-reported activities and deprivation and infection (self-reported lateral flow or PCR tests and linkage to National Testing data and Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS)) between August - December 2021, following the lifting of national public health restrictions.

Results

Those living in areas of greatest deprivation were more likely to undertake essential activities (leaving home for work (aOR 1.56 (1.33 - 1.83)), using public transport (aOR 1.33 (1.13 - 1.57)) but less likely to undertake non-essential activities (indoor hospitality (aOR 0.82 (0.70 - 0.96)), outdoor hospitality (aOR 0.56 (0.48 - 0.66)), indoor leisure (aOR 0.63 (0.54 - 0.74)), outdoor leisure (aOR 0.64 (0.46 - 0.88)), or visit a hairdresser (aOR 0.72 (0.61 - 0.85))). No statistical association was observed between deprivation and infection (P=0.5745), with those living in areas of greatest deprivation no more likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 (aOR 1.25 (0.87 - 1.79).

Conclusion

The lack of association between deprivation and infection is likely due to the increased engagement in non-essential activities among the least deprived balancing the increased work-related exposure among the most deprived. The differences in activities highlight stark disparities in an individuals' ability to choose how to limit infection exposure.

The Role of Subjective Expectations for Exhaustion and Recovery: The Sample Case of Work and Leisure

We propose a new model of exhaustion and recovery that posits that people evaluate an activity as exhausting or recovering on the basis of the subjective expectation about how exhausting or recovering activities related to a certain life domain are. To exemplify the model, we focus as a first step on the widely shared expectations that work is exhausting and leisure is recovering. We assume that the association of an activity related to a life domain associated with exhaustion (e.g., work) leads people to monitor their experiences and selectively attend to signs of exhaustion; in contrast, while pursuing an activity related to a life domain associated with recovery (e.g., leisure), people preferentially process signs of recovery. We further posit that the preferential processing of signs of exhaustion (vs. recovery) leads to experiencing more exhaustion when pursuing activities expected to be exhausting (e.g., work activities) and more recovery when pursuing activities expected to be recovering (e.g., leisure activities). This motivational process model of exhaustion and recovery provides new testable hypotheses that differ from predictions derived from limited-resource models.

Interventions that aim to increase social participation through recreation or leisure activity for adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Social isolation and reduced social participation are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Developing interventions that aim to increase social participation through recreation or leisure activities continues to be challenging. This scoping review was conducted to provide an overview of interventions used to increase social participation through in-person recreation or leisure activity for adults with moderate to severe TBI living in the community.

METHODS

Using the Arksey and O'Malley framework, a scoping review of the literature published from 2005 to 2023 was conducted across four databases: Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus. Quality appraisals were conducted for included studies.

RESULTS

Following the removal of duplicates, 10,056 studies were screened and 52 were retained for full-text screening. Seven papers were included in the final review. Studies varied with respect to the type of intervention and program outcomes. The interpretation was impeded by study quality, with only two studies providing higher levels of evidence. Barriers and facilitators to successful program outcomes were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Few studies with interventions focused on increasing social participation in leisure or recreation activity were identified. Further research incorporating mixed methods and longitudinal design to evaluate effectiveness over time is needed to build the evidence base for increasing social participation through leisure activity.

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

Objectives

To investigate the role of leisure (as social engagement) in moderating the association between subjective wellbeing and depressive symptoms among older Indians.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Discussion

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.

"We Can Do This!": The Role of Physical Activity in What Comes Next for Dementia

There is increasing interest in physical activity as a response to the harm caused by dementia. The focus has been upon interventions to prevent or delay symptoms or to support people living with the condition to reminisce. Whilst this is welcome, there are other features inherent to physical activity that remain unrecognised or underutilised and, consequently, its full potential for good is unrealised. Most prominent is the ability physical activity has to enable participants to claim and sustain a place in the world through what they do, crucial to a context where the impact of dementia tends to annihilate this for those living with the condition. The article addresses this gap. In doing so, it presents key findings. These include (1) highlighting the fundamental importance of features such as person-centred care, human rights and social citizenship to enabling people with dementia to live lives of quality and (2) identifying synergies with these features and what physical activity can offer; for example, emphasising the value of bringing these together to illustrate how physical activity can contribute to enabling people with dementia to live lives characterised by quality, and the maintenance of their place in the world. The article concludes by suggesting what must come next to ensure physical activity can play the fullest role possible.

Single- vs. combined-category preference assessments for edible, leisure, and social-interaction stimuli

A concern when conducting combined-category preference assessments is the potential for displacement effects, a shift in the preference ranking from highly preferred to moderately or less preferred for stimuli in two of three stimulus categories (e.g., edible, leisure, or social-interaction). In this study, we evaluated potential displacement effects in combined-category arrays of edible, leisure, and social-interaction stimuli for five individuals with autism. First, single-category paired-stimulus preference assessments were implemented to identify two highly preferred stimuli from each category. When these stimuli were included in a combined-category preference assessment, displacement effects were observed for three of five participants. During a subsequent reinforcer assessment, stimuli identified as less preferred in the combined-category preference assessment functioned as reinforcers for two participants. Additionally, although social interaction was not identified as highly preferred for three of the five participants, it functioned as a reinforcer for four participants.

Leisure Participation of Autistic Adults: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Feasibility Study

Autistic adults participate less and express lower satisfaction in leisure activities than nonautistic adults, although literature is limited. The multifaceted nature of leisure participation makes it challenging to measure, with most measures being retrospective. Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) can reduce recall bias. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of EMA among autistic adults. Participants (N = 40) were recruited via email and online. After completing a baseline interview, participants were asked to complete a once-daily survey for 30 days, in which they received survey links through a text messaging smartphone app. Surveys asked participants to report whether they participated in any leisure activities during the day, their level of enjoyment, with whom they interacted, and where they participated. The EMA appeared feasible in this sample, as participants completed the daily survey on average 27.05 (SD = 3.92) days. Regarding acceptability, most agreed that survey timing was convenient, that it was easy to enter responses and answer questions daily, and that they had enough response time. Overall, this study supports the use of EMA methodology among autistic adults. Future research should follow and improve upon these EMA data collection practices to examine daily behavior and well-being among autistic adults.

parkrun participation, impact and perceived social inclusion among runners/walkers and volunteers with mental health conditions

Engagement in recreation can positively impact the physical and mental health of those experiencing mental health challenges; however, the impact of engaging in other aspects of such recreation, such as volunteering, remain largely unexplored in this population. Volunteering is known to have a wealth of health and wellbeing benefits among the general population; therefore, the impact of recreational-based volunteering for those with mental health conditions deserves to be explored. The current study sought to examine the health, social and wellbeing impacts of parkrun engagement among runners and volunteers living with a mental health condition. Participants with a mental health condition (N = 1661, M(SD)age = 43.4 (12.8) years, 66% female) completed self-reported questionnaires. A MANOVA was conducted to examine the differences in health and wellbeing impacts between those who run/walk vs. those who run/walk and volunteer, while chi-square analyses examined variables of perceived social inclusion. Findings suggest that there was a statistically significant multivariate effect of participation type on perceived parkrun impact (F (10, 1470) = 7.13; p < 0.001; Wilk's Λ = 0.954, partial η2 = 0.046). It was also found that for those who run/walk and volunteer, compared to those who only run/walk, parkrun made them more feel part of a community (56% v 29% respectively, X2(1) = 116.70, p < 0.001) and facilitated them meeting new people (60% v 24% respectively, X2 (1) = 206.67, p < 0.001). These results suggest that the health, wellbeing, and social inclusion benefits of parkrun participation are different for those who run and volunteer, compared to those who only run. These findings may have public health implications and clinical implications for mental health treatment, as they convey that it is not simply the physical engagement in recreation that may play a role in one's recovery, but also the volunteer aspect.

Determinants of Future Physical Activity Participation in New Zealand Adolescents across Sociodemographic Groups: A Descriptive Study

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore various determinants of future physical activity (PA) participation in adolescents across sociodemographic groups. Sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, deprivation status, physical disability status) were assessed in a national sample (n = 6906) of adolescents (12-17 years old) between 2017 and 2020 in New Zealand. The determinants of future PA participation chosen for analysis included current indicators of PA participation (i.e., total time, number of types, number of settings). We also examined widely recognised modifiable intrapersonal (i.e., physical literacy) and interpersonal (i.e., social support) determinants of current and future PA behaviour, along with indicators of PA availability issues. Older adolescents scored worse across all determinants of future PA than younger adolescents, with a key transition point appearing at 14-15 years of age. Māori and Pacific ethnicities scored best across each determinant category on average, with Asian populations scoring the worst. Gender diverse adolescents scored substantially worse than male and female adolescents across every determinant. Physically disabled adolescents scored worse than non-disabled across all determinants. Adolescents from medium and high deprivation neighbourhoods scored similarly across most determinants of future PA participation and both tended to score worse than people from low deprivation neighbourhoods. A particular focus on the improvement of future PA determinants is warranted within adolescents who are older, Asian, gender diverse, physically disabled, and from medium to high deprivation neighbourhoods. Future investigation should prioritise the longitudinal tracking of PA behaviours over time and develop interventions that affect multiple future PA determinants across a range of sociodemographic backgrounds.

Do the various leisure forms have equal effects on mental health? A longitudinal analysis of self-selected leisure activities

The deteriorating trends of unbalanced income, progressive age-related health problems, and loss of traditional ties necessitate ever-flexible interventions that are helpful to overcome a decline in Chinese adults' mental health. This study aimed to test whether engagement in different domains of leisure is associated with a composite index of mental health, both concurrently and subsequently. Longitudinal data including 10,968 participants (females = 5,804) with a mean age of 46.01 years in the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) were analyzed using generalized estimating equations with a logit link. The results showed that face-to-face experiences, such as sports with all ORs of < 1 at the significance level of α = 0.01 and meeting with all ORs of < 1 at the significance level of α = 0.01 except daily in-person meeting frequency, are important for protecting mental health owing to the increasing social support by building close ties. The results also indicate that online leisure with all ORs < 1 at the significance level of α = 0.01 has positive effects on lowering the odds of depression. In addition, receptive cognitive leisure, such as watching television or movies with all ORs < 1 at the significance level of α = 0.05 level, was not consistently associated with depression. However, active cognitive leisure, such as reading with all ORs of < 1 at a significance level of α = 0.01, was associated with lower odds of depression.

Physical Activity, Public Policy, Health Promotion, Sociability and Leisure: A Study on Gymnastics Groups in a Brazilian City Hall

BACKGROUND

The present study analyzed a gymnastics program offered by the Department of Sports and Leisure at a Brazilian city hall, representing an example of an effective and consolidated public policy.

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to understand the reasons for enrollment/joining (adhesion) and permanence (adherence) among female students in gymnastics groups in order to understand why this public policy has been taking place uninterruptedly for over thirty years and to characterize the quality of life of female gymnastics students.

METHODS

This is a case study that used mixed methods. As a quantitative method, the Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-bref) questionnaire was used. As a qualitative method, the focus group technique was used. Thus, 239 women aged between thirty-five and seventy-four years old, who were students of the gymnastics program, participated in this research by answering the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire. Two classes were selected using the socioeconomic criterion of social classes in inverse situations to carry out one focus group session; then, twenty students belonging to the two classes were randomly selected.

RESULTS

It was verified that the public policy studied has led to an improvement in the quality of life of the students, with the benefits extending beyond physical health, and that in both groups adhesion occurred mainly due to the indication of students who already practiced, or due to medical indications. It was also found that, in both groups, the main reason for long-term adherence was the understanding of the gymnastics class as a space for sociability and a moment of leisure.

CONCLUSION

Physical activity is an important health promotion strategy. In addition to its biological benefits, which are necessary for the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, it also improves health and quality of life through social and psychological benefits, characterizing it as an effective health care strategy from a biopsychosocial perspective.

Low-Cost Technology-Aided Programs for Supporting People With Motor, Visual, and Intellectual Disabilities in Functional Forms of Occupation and Communication: Proof-of-Concept Study

BACKGROUND

People with motor, visual, and intellectual disabilities may have serious problems in independently accessing various forms of functional daily occupation and communication.

OBJECTIVE

The study was aimed at developing and assessing new, low-cost technology-aided programs to help people with motor or visual-motor and intellectual disabilities independently engage in functional forms of occupation and communication with distant partners.

METHODS

Two programs were set up using a smartphone interfaced with a 2-switch device and a tablet interfaced with 2 pressure sensors, respectively. Single-subject research designs were used to assess (1) the first program with 2 participants who were blind, had moderate hand control, and were interested in communicating with distant partners through voice messages; and (2) the second program with 2 participants who possessed functional vision, had no or poor hand control, and were interested in communicating with their partners through video calls. Both programs also supported 2 forms of occupational engagement, that is, choosing and accessing preferred leisure events consisting of songs and music videos, and listening to brief stories about relevant daily topics and answering questions related to those stories.

RESULTS

During the baseline phase (when only a conventional smartphone or tablet was available), 2 participants managed sporadic access to leisure or leisure and communication events. The other 2 participants did not show any independent leisure or communication engagement. During the intervention (when the technology-aided programs were used), all participants managed to independently engage in multiple leisure and communication events throughout the sessions and to listen to stories and answer story-related questions.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings, which need to be interpreted with caution given the nature of the study and the small number of participants, seem to suggest that the new programs may be viable tools for helping people with motor or visual-motor and intellectual disabilities independently access leisure, communication, and other forms of functional engagement.

Self-reported restrictions in different life domains and associated factors among people with multiple sclerosis in Sweden

BACKGROUND

The heterogeneous symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) can considerably impact the lives of people with MS (PwMS). The aim of this study was to describe the extent of restrictions in different life domains that PwMS experience in relation to their symptoms and level of disability.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among working-aged PwMS in Sweden. The 4052 participants who answered the questions on restrictions in work and private life domains (family, leisure activities, and contact with friends/acquaintances) were included. Predictors of restrictions in the four domains were determined through multinomial logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Around a third of the PwMS reported no restrictions in the domains of work (35.7%), family (38.7%), leisure activities (31.1%) and contact with friends/acquaintances (40.3%), the remaining participants reported moderate to severe restrictions. Tiredness/fatigue was the most commonly reported most limiting symptom (49.5%). PwMS with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores of zero reported restrictions in life domains ranging from 39.6% (friends/acquaintances) to 45.7% (leisure activities). Age, sex, education, type of living area, MS type, type of most limiting symptom, and EDSS score predicted restrictions in work and private life domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Most PwMS reported similar levels of restrictions in both their work and private lives. Restrictions in these life domains were also reported by PwMS with low disability levels (EDSS=0) and were often associated with invisible symptoms such as fatigue. Even in a contemporary MS cohort, close to 90% of PwMS report limitations due to MS.

Lifestyle Entrepreneurship as a Vehicle for Leisure and Sustainable Tourism

The subject of this research is related to sustainable tourism and its connection with lifestyle entrepreneurship. The Portuguese business fabric is formed by micro, small, and medium sized enterprises which have emerged in big numbers over the last years, mainly related directly and indirectly to the tourism industry. The discussed issue of this study is whether these companies are a vehicle for sustainable tourism in rural areas. Via a qualitative method, through a comparative case study of 11 businesses, the goal is to evaluate if the lifestyle entrepreneurship initiatives promote sustainable tourism in rural areas, identifying the specific business created and evaluating their growth toward the planned strategies and actions related to internal resources and capacity, as well as marketing. Lastly, the results present the plans made for growth according to the necessary balance among economic progress, environment, public health, and a social context. This study promotes decision tools for entrepreneurs and destination managers as to the practices to be adopted with the goal of sustainable development. Thus, in terms of ecological responsibility, the use of renewable energy through biomass is a very efficient practice because it both produces energy and reduces waste, since the energy production comes from plants and animal waste.

Leisure activities and cognitive impairment in old age: The role of life course socioeconomic status

In the current literature on cognitive function, life course socioeconomic status (SES) and engaging in leisure activities are often viewed as parallel measures of cognitive reserve that independently affect cognitive impairment in old age. Some studies also suggest that leisure activity mediates the effect of SES on cognitive impairment. What is less examined is the modification effect of SES on the association between engaging in leisure activities and cognitive impairment, especially from a life course perspective. In this study, we focus on the interaction effects of specific measures of SES and leisure activities on cognitive impairment. We use data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which includes five waves of interviews with adults aged 65 and older between 2002 and 2014. Cognitive impairment is measured by the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination. Childhood and adulthood SES and participation in seven leisure activities are included in this analysis. We adopt a lagged independent variable approach and the Generalized Linear Mixed Model to conduct the analysis. Findings confirm that higher SES in both childhood and adulthood are associated with low levels of cognitive impairment in the older Chinese population. Furthermore, there are significant interaction effects between specific life course SES and leisure activities with a consistent pattern: Those of higher life course SES enjoy extra benefits from engaging in leisure activities. The findings point to a modification mechanism that connects life course SES, leisure activities, and cognitive health inequality among older adults.

Participation patterns of children with cerebral palsy: A caregiver's perspective

Background

Participation in activities of daily living (ADL), education, leisure and play in children living with cerebral palsy (CP) may be affected by various factors, as outlined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Framework (ICF). The aim of this study was to describe the participation patterns of a group of these children.

Objectives

This study aimed to describe participation patterns in ADL, education, leisure and play activities of children living with CP in Modimolle.

Method

An exploratory-descriptive qualitative (EDQ) study design was used. A researcher-constructed bio-demographic data sheet and a semi-structured interview schedule were used to collect data from the primary caregivers of children (5-17 years) living with CP in Modimolle. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, translated from Sepedi to English and analysed using the content analysis approach and NVivo software.

Results

The findings of this study indicated that children living with CP in Modimolle require set-up and assistance to participate in various ADL such as self-care, family and community activities. They also participate in formal and informal educational programmes as well as active and passive leisure and play activities. However, at the moment, they have limited opportunities to participate because of resource constraints and inaccessible infrastructure.

Conclusion

Although children with CP in Modimolle perform some ADL, and participate in educational, leisure and play activities, they are not fully integrated into their community. Legislative support and policy implementation are required to improve participation and integration of children living with CP. Further studies on community-specific integrative strategies to enhance participation among children living with disabilities are recommended.

Contribution

This paper provides valuable information on the participation patterns of children with CP living in a rural area of South Africa. The findings can assist with development and implementation of community-specific, integrative health and social care strategies to enhance participation among children living with disabilities.

On Time, Leisure, and Health in Retirement: Implications for Public Health Services

Various life challenges, such as widowhood, poor health, or significant caregiving responsibilities, can make the possibility of how to spend one's time in retirement seem daunting. Planning can help people feel more confident and prepared. In this paper, we review research that has examined: (1) life factors impacting fears about and adjustment to retirement, (2) access to resources and utilization of strategies that impact adaptation processes, and (3) the ways leisure and leisure education may be resources to support not only individual adaptation but practices of public health service providers in assisting people who may be struggling with this transition. The review ends with recommendations for public health practice including: (1) the inclusion of leisure and leisure education as a focus of service provision; (2) the development of partnerships or collaborations between public health and recreation-related organizations; and (3) the development and delivery of group- and individual-based leisure education programs.

Gentrification of the (Leisure) Mind: Organizational Justifications and Community Concerns of a Proposed LGBTQ2S Sport and Recreation Center

In 2015, Toronto's largest LGBTQ2S organization, the city, and a private donor collaborated and proposed what they believed constituted the world's first LGBTQ2S sport and recreation facility in Toronto's Moss Park neighborhood. While conceived as a site that would expand community services in an underserved community, this project was met with criticism from segments of the Moss Park community. Using qualitative interviews with both representatives from the LGBTQ2S organization and local residents, the purpose of this was to analyze justifications behind the project and concerns from the community. In so doing, the authors reflect upon the relationship between sport, recreation, and leisure-based place-making and questions of queer/de-queering politics by exploring the transformative or assimilationist aspects of queer recreation practices, the homonormativity of leisure spaces, and spiritual displacement associated with queer gentrification.

Yoga Practice and Choices of Foods, Physical Activity, and Leisure: A Convenience Sampling Survey from India

Background

Previous surveys from countries other than India reported positive health behaviors in yoga practitioners. The present study aimed to determine with respect to yoga practitioners in India: (i) percentages of yoga practitioners who consumed specific foods, had additional physical activity and leisure activity, (ii) the association between these choices and their yoga practice, and (iii) the association of yoga with adding or avoiding specific foods and with meal timings in a day.

Materials and Methods

This convenience hybrid-mode sampling survey was conducted on 551 yoga-experienced persons.

Results

(1) Yoga practitioner respondents ate fruits and vegetables regularly (62.1%), did not consume animal source products (69.2%), alcohol (98.0%), or tobacco (98.4%), had a regular physical activity other than yoga (77.5%) and leisure activities (92.2%). (2) More than 150 min/week of yoga practice and experience of yoga exceeding 60 months was (a) significantly associated with (i) regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, (ii) lower consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, animal source foods, tobacco, and alcohol (P < 0.05, Chi-square test) and (b) not associated with physical activity or leisure activities (P > 0.05, Chi-square test). (3) Yoga practitioners excluded sugar-sweetened beverages, animal-source foods and fast foods from their diet, whereas they added fruits, vegetables, and plant-based juices to their diet, with earlier first and last meals for the day.

Conclusion

In India, yoga practitioner respondents' choices for foods, physical activity, and leisure conform to accepted positive health behaviors. The exclusion of animal-source foods emphasizes the need for well-planned and fortified diets among vegan yoga practitioners.

Leisure Activities and Depressive Symptoms among Older Men and Women in Mexico: Implications of Physical Health

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated whether the effects of specific types of group and individual leisure activities on depressive symptoms differ for older men and women in Mexico and whether several indicators of physical health can shape the psychological benefits of these activities.

METHODS

This study used data from two waves (2012 and 2015) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study and employed OLS regressions.

RESULTS

The association between leisure activities and depressive symptoms among older Mexicans may vary by the type of activity, gender, and physical health. Physical health issues may decrease potential psychological benefits of certain leisure activities. Yet, despite deteriorating physical health, older adults may benefit from involvement in some leisure activities.

DISCUSSION

This study highlights the diversity of experiences related to later-life mental health and emphasizes the importance of investigating psychological implications of specific types of leisure activities among older men and women with different physical health concerns.

Following the 'hype': The role of leisure practices during 'homeland' visits in transnational youth's way of relating to Ghana

Drawing on 17 months of ethnographic fieldwork in the Netherlands and Ghana, this paper combines 'return' mobilities literature and youth studies to analyse the role of leisure practices during 'homeland' visits in transnational youth's way of relating to Ghana when they are entering into adulthood. Using the notion of mobility trajectories, the paper shows that leisure practices facilitate young people's ability to establish and renew intimate transnational relationships with diasporic friends, and Ghana-based same-generation relatives and romantic partners. Differing from earlier stays in Ghana, young people expressed their emerging sense of independence by exploring alternative sides of the country with these peers, based on common interests and belonging to the same life-cycle cohort. The findings add complexity to the notion of the 'homeland' as a monolithic place of reconnecting with family and roots by drawing attention to the intersection between young people's pathways to adulthood and transnational mobility.

The relationship of diverse leisure activities with flourishing

The relationship between leisure and wellbeing is of great interest in the field of leisure studies. Keyes (2002) developed a typology of flourishing vs. languishing that encompasses subjective, psychological, and social wellbeing and is linked with physical health and functioning. However, little research has been done to show how participation in various forms of leisure might be associated with this flourishing typology. Drawing on data from community data with over 5,000 adult participants, we assessed how leisure is associated with a flourishing typology. For the present analyses, we focus on scales that assessed social leisure (e.g., socializing with friends), cultural leisure (e.g., festival attendance), home-based leisure (e.g., reading books for pleasure), physically active leisure (e.g., moderate or vigorous), and media-based leisure (e.g., time spent playing computer games or watching TV). A flourishing typology was constructed from single-item ratings on life satisfaction (subjective wellbeing), psychological well-being (self-perceptions that one's life activities are worthwhile), and social wellbeing (sense of belonging). Flourishing was linked to greater participation in cultural, social, home-based, and physically active leisure. Greater time spent playing computer games and watching TV was associated with languishing. Thus, certain forms of leisure reflect flourishing and others are linked with languishing. The nature of these associations remains to be explored, in particular, whether leisure contributes to flourishing or if flourishing facilitates certain forms of leisure participation.

Leisure and meaning in life

How people engage in leisure is an important but frequently underappreciated aspect of meaning in life. Leisure activities range from highly engaging and meaningful to subjectively trivial. Leisure itself is largely defined by meaning: The essence of leisure lies less in the specific activity than in the subjective perception of freedom, choice, and intrinsic motivation. People desire their lives to be meaningful, and leisure activities offer varying degrees of satisfying the basic needs for meaning (here covered as purpose, value, efficacy, and self-worth). Leisure activities vary along multiple conceptual dimensions, such as active vs. passive, seeking vs. escaping, solitary vs. interpersonal, and we consider the implications of these for meaningfulness. The most common leisure activity in modern society, watching television, encapsulates some of the paradoxes of leisure and meaningfulness. The study of how leisure enhances meaning in life is rich and ripe for future research.

The leisure basis of caring

The social science literature on caring is long on application and short on concepts about its nature. In this latter capacity leisure is seldom mentioned as a context within which people care for others. This article examines the relationship of caring and compassion as expressed during free time in leisure activities. This has never been done, with the result that many contextual and motivational properties unique to leisure have been overlooked, and consequently, have been unavailable to both the theoretic and the practical sides of the sociology and psychology of compassion. The present article attempts to demonstrate that such oversight has denied this field some useful conceptual tools.

Linguistic Analysis of Online Domestic Violence Testimonies in the Context of COVID-19

Worldwide, an increase in cases and severity of domestic violence (DV) has been reported as a result of social distancing measures implemented to decrease the spreading of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). As one's language can provide insight in one's mental health, this pre-registered study analyzed word use in a DV online support group, aiming to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on DV victims in an ex post facto research design. Words reflecting social support and leisure activities were investigated as protective factors against linguistic indicators of depression in 5,856 posts from the r/domesticviolence subreddit and two neutral comparison subreddits (r/changemyview & r/femalefashionadvice). In the DV support group, the average number of daily posts increased significantly by 22% from pre- to mid-pandemic. Confirmatory analysis was conducted following a registered pre-analysis plan. DV victims used significantly more linguistic indicators of depression than individuals in the comparison groups. This did not change with the onset of COVID-19. The use of negative emotion words was negatively related to the use of social support words (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient [rho] = -0.110) and words referring to leisure activities (rho = -0.137). Pre-occupation with COVID-19 was associated with the use of negative emotion words (rho = 0.148). We conclude that language of DV victims is characterized by indicators of depression and this characteristic is stable over time. Concerns with COVID-19 could contribute to negative emotions, whereas social support and leisure activities could function to some degree as protective factors. A potential weakness of this study is its cross-sectional design and the lack of experimental control. Future studies could make use of natural language processing and other advanced methods of linguistic analysis to learn about the mental health of DV victims.

Disparate Emotions as Expressions of Well-Being: Impact of Festival Participation from the Participants' Subjective View

The purpose of this research is that through festival participants' subjective views get a better understanding of how their participation results in positive feelings and well-being. The paper has a qualitative approach based on a delimited part of a larger survey and the content analysis method has been employed. A total of 280 participants, mainly of immigrant origin, answered one of the open-ended questions in the survey: What emotions does celebrating the Fire Festival evoke in you? Please justify your answer. The most common meaning in the answers has been good feelings followed by feelings of integration and community, the return of spring, and nostalgia. The results show that the festival has significance for these peoples' good feelings and well-being, even though it lasts five hours. This study contributes to increased knowledge of festivals' positive impacts on individuals, especially on immigrants living in Western countries.

Racialized Women in Sport in Canada: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

This scoping literature review examines: What literature exists about the sport and physical activity experiences of racialized cis and trans women, adolescents, and girls in Canada?

METHODS

English language peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and gray literature published January 1, 2000, up to May 31, 2020, were examined. The databases used were SPORTDiscus via EBSCO, Sociological Abstracts, Sport Medicine and Education Index, and Google Scholar. The 42 studies and 15 gray literatures found included 1430 participants explicitly specified as racialized women/girl participants.

RESULTS

There was a paucity of literature on the topic overall with none (n = 0) focused on experiences of racialized trans women. The limited research notes some successful programs that address racialized women's needs. However, the research also shows widespread experiences of discrimination against women based on racial group and language and limited access to culturally relevant or welcoming sporting opportunities, such as women-only programs and spaces.

CONCLUSIONS

Much more research should be done to disaggregate "immigrants" into specific racial and ethnic groups, attend to intersectional identities and barriers, understand a wide range of involvement (eg, including coaching, high performance sport, recreation, exercise, university sport, mentorship programs), document racism and White privilege, and describe the joys of participation in sport for racialized women.

A qualitative investigation of leisure benefits for social and psychological health among international volleyball players living in South Korea

Purpose

The proportion of foreign players in global sports industries has steadily increased in the last decade. This qualitative study aims to capture the benefits of leisure activities for the social and psychological health of international volleyball players affiliated with South Korean volleyball leagues.

Method

A purposeful criterion sampling strategy was employed in this qualitative study. Findings: Based on semi-structured interviews with 12 participants, in this study three major themes pertaining to leisure benefits are identified: (a) new leisure opportunities and coping, (b) inter-intra group friendships, and (c) acculturation.

Conclusions

These benefits can contribute to social and psychological health for the participants. Practical implications of this study and suggestions for health professionals, sports psychologists, and team counsellors are discussed.

Life and Leisure Activities following Stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA): An Observational, Multi-Centre, 6-Month Follow-Up Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine changes in leisure participation following stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and explore its relationship to modifiable and non-modifiable participant characteristics.

DESIGN

An observational study design with self-report questionnaires collected at two time points (baseline and 6-months).

SETTING

The study was conducted across 21 hospital sites in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were aged 18+ and had experienced a first or recurrent stroke or TIA and had a post-stroke/TIA modified Rankin score (mRS) of ≤3.

PROCEDURE

Research practitioners at each site approached potential participants. Individuals who agreed to participate completed a baseline questionnaire whilst an inpatient or at a first post-stroke/TIA clinic appointment. A follow-up questionnaire was posted to participants with a freepost return envelope. Two questionnaires were developed that collected demographic information, pre-stroke/TIA mRS, social circumstances (e.g., employment situation) and incorporated the shortened Nottingham Leisure Questionnaire (sNLQ).

RESULTS

The study recruited eligible participants (N = 3295); 2000 participants returned questionnaires at follow-up. Data showed three participant variables were significant predictors of engagement in leisure activities post-stroke/TIA: age, sex, and deprivation decile. There was an overall decline in the number and variety of leisure activities, with an average loss of 2.2 activities following stroke/TIA. Only one activity, "exercise/fitness" saw an increase in engagement from baseline to follow-up; watching TV remained stable, whilst participation in all other activities reduced between 10% and 40% with an average activity engagement reduction of 22%.

CONCLUSIONS

Some groups experienced a greater reduction in activities than others-notably older participants, female participants, and those living in a low socioeconomic area.

REGISTRATION

researchregistry4607.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY

1. This is the largest-ever study to survey life and leisure activity engagement following stroke/TIA. 2. Survey responses were self-reported retrospectively and, therefore, may have been misreported, or misremembered. 3. Despite the large cohort, there were few participants, and so respondents, from ethnic minority groups.

Programmed Activity Attendance in Assisted Living: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior with Additional Health Factors

Objectives: Programmed activities contribute to the quality of life of assisted living (AL) residents, but attendance rates are often quite low. Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study explores relationships among social cognitive variables, multidimensional health factors, and programmed activity attendance in AL.Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 185 AL residents (Mage = 83.64, SD = 9.64) self-reported physical and mental health; TPB constructs (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, behavioral control, and behavioral intention); and the percentage of programmed activities attended in the previous week.Results: Structural modeling showed that TPB was a good fit for the data (χ2/DF = 1.67; CFI = .97; TLI = .96; RMSEA = .06), explaining 82% of variance in behavioral intention and 44% of variance in activity attendance. After adding health factors to the model, only mental health yielded a significant indirect effect on activity attendance.Conclusion: Results provide preliminary support for the viability of TPB as a framework to explain resident activity attendance in AL. Thus, the decision to attend programmed activities in AL may represent a social cognitive process, influenced by mental health.Clinical Implications: Interventions may consider targeting TPB constructs and mental health to increase activity behaviors amongst AL residents.