Real-Time Associations Between Engaging in Leisure and Daily Health and Well-Being. Issue 4 (28th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zawadzki, Matthew J.; Smyth, Joshua M.; Costigan, Heather J.
• Is Part Of: Annals of behavioral medicine. Volume 49:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 605
• Page End: 615
• Publication Date: 2015-02-28
• Subjects: Leisure -- Mood -- Stress -- Ecological momentary assessment -- Multilevel modeling; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Sick -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Behavioral Medicine; 616.0019
• DOI: 10.1007/s12160-015-9694-3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-6612

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Engagement in leisure has a wide range of beneficial health effects. Yet, this evidence is derived from between-person methods that do not examine the momentary within-person processes theorized to explain leisure's benefits. Purpose: This study examined momentary relationships between leisure and health and well-being in daily life. Methods: A community sample ( n = 115) completed ecological momentary assessments six times a day for three consecutive days. At each measurement, participants indicated if they were engaging in leisure and reported on their mood, interest/boredom, and stress levels. Next, participants collected a saliva sample for cortisol analyses. Heart rate was assessed throughout the study. Results: Multilevel models revealed that participants had more positive and less negative mood, more interest, less stress, and lower heart rate when engaging in leisure than when not. Conclusions: Results suggest multiple mechanisms explaining leisure's effectiveness, which can inform leisure-based interventions to improve health and well-being.