Leisure Satisfaction

“Leisure refers to activities that a person voluntarily engages in when they are free from any work, social or familial responsibilities” Leisure satisfaction is the positive perceptions or feelings that an individual forms, elicits and gains as a result of engaging in leisure activities and choices. What can contribute to leisure satisfaction is to what degree an individual is currently satisfied with their leisure experiences and activities. An individual might attain positive feelings of contentment and happiness that result from the satisfaction of needs. Participation in leisure activities and leisure satisfaction are inextricably linked to an individual's health.Caldwell (2005) suspects that that leisure activities may be associated with a number of defensive traits that enhance a person’s resiliency to negative life experiences. Some aspects of leisure activities that can act as protective factors include: “ being personally meaningful, intrinsically interesting and/or challenging; offering social support and friendships; contributing to a sense of competence and/or self efficacy; offering a sense of personal control, choice and self-determination; and being relaxing and/or distracting the individual from negative life events.” Leisure activities, although ranging in types, have also proven to be beneficial to health cross-culturally.