We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2011
Leisure plays a significant role in shaping everyday lives and in defining the quality of life. This paper examines the nature and meaning of leisure, outlines recent trends and present patterns of leisure behaviour, and discusses the part played by leisure in shaping present and future lifestyles.
Definitions
Leisure and lifestyle are neither easy to define nor straightforward to measure. Definitions alone have generated a substantial literature (for example de Grazia, 1962; Brightbill, 1963; Dumazedier, 1967; Countryside Recreation Research Advisory Group, 1970; Neulinger, 1974; Kelvin, 1979; Kelly, 1982; Tokarski Filipcova & Glyptis, 1990). Leisure has been defined in three broad ways. The first relates to time. Leisure is frequently referred to as ‘the time available to the individual when the disciplines of work, sleep and other basic needs have been met’ (Countryside Recreation Research Advisory Group, 1970, p. 5). However, this notion of leisure as a mere leftover denies it any positive character or purpose. In reality, leisure is not simply time free from other things; as many unemployed people and retired people know, free time can be far from leisurely: in large quantity it can be more of a burden than a blessing.
The second approach views leisure more positively as particular types of activity, which may provide rest and recuperation, diversion, excitement, personal and social fulfilment, and, literally, mental or physical re-creation.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
