Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Leisure and well-being are closely entwined throughout life. Whether defined as free time or volitional activity, the significance of leisure is that it provides opportunities wherein the quest for meaning is self-absorbing and yields subjectively salutary results. Given changes in the character of work, certainty of careers, timing of retirement, and improvements in health, it is reasonable to assert that leisure will occupy an important place in the aging process. Rather than consider free time, leisure, and aging as domains separate from the rest of life, adopting a life course perspective may provide greater insight. Leisure is grounded in societal conditions as well as the subjective and individualized world of participants. Leisure does not stand free of broader societal-based values, gendered distinctions, life course issues, family stage, work, retirement, or other sociodemographic or marketplace influences. Yet leisure is symbolically significant to individuals, helping to create meaning and sense of self. Leisure structures time, space, and social relationships. If normative prescriptions or reinforcements from other realms become unclear for any reason, leisure interests may assume greater prominence. As far as individuals are concerned, leisure facilitates self-enhancement, expression, and identity formation through intrinsic rewards, opportunities to exercise agency, ... log in or subscribe to read full text