The Importance Of Leisure Activities

Participating in leisure activities has been proven time and time again to be an important aspect of a person’s overall well-being and life satisfaction (Leverson, Danielson, Birkeland, & Samdal, 2012, p. 1). Leisure plays a significant role in everyone’s life, starting from birth until death. For this paper, I will research the importance of leisure during adolescence and young adulthood as well as leisure patterns among retirees. Additionally, I will examine constraints experienced during adolescence, young adulthood, and retirement age. Leverson, et al. study the importance of leisure participation during adolescence and the link between three basic psychological needs; competence, relatedness, and autonomy (Leverson, et al, 2012, p. 2).

Becchetti, Ricca, and Pelloni study the relationship between social leisure and life satisfaction. Part of their study focuses on leisure patterns found with people in their mid-fifties, and life after retirement. Additionally, Edginton, Jordan, DeGraaf and Edginton have studied life satisfaction as related to age with persons aged fifty and older. Specifically, they discuss at leisure participation of people in retirement. Moreover, there are several factors in which one experiences that can constrain leisure life, as explained by Branch-Allen and Jayachandran. Edginton, et al. have proposed a list of ten major categories of constraints commonly faced by leisure participants. Lastly, McCarville and MacKay explain five other categories of structural constraints to leisure.
Leverson et al. argue that three basic psychological needs are met through leisure activities during adolescence. The need of competence, relatedness and autonomy

discuss the relationship between social leisure and life satisfaction. They’ve conducted a study to better understand the link between leisure and general life satisfaction. Their research focuses on persons of all ages however, Becchetti, et al. take a closer look at those aged fifty and over. Additionally, they examine the ‘relational goods’ aspect of leisure. Becchetti, et al. explain that the term ‘relational goods’ was introduced to “define a set of intangibles ranging from companionship, sympathy and intimacy, to feeling part of a community with the same values or tastes etc.” (Becchetti, Ricca, & Pelloni, 2011, p. 4). ‘Relational goods’ is something that occurs because of participating in an activity. For example, it can develop through leisure activities such as; “participating in a political debate, volunteering, [and] applauding at a theater” (Becchetti, et al., 2011, p. 4). Indeed, it is important to mention that the value of ‘relational goods’ is dependent on the sincerity and genuineness of the individuals involved (Becchetti, et al., 2011, p. 4). The authors highlight the importance of ‘relational goods’ when it comes to leisure. The level of life satisfaction in a person’s life, to a certain extent, depends on their leisurely time. Becchetti, et al. discuss leisure patterns with persons aged fifty and over, and their findings suggest that once a person enters retirement, they are able to redefine their leisure life. Retirement gives people an