Skip to main content
Log in

Leisure participation and satisfaction in two European communities

  • Published:
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper compares participation in leisure activities in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and Thionville, France. Factors associated with participation in different types of leisure activities, including health, status, household structure, attitudes towards leisure, and perceptions about leisure facilities are examined for the two communities. The study also compares the contribution of participation in different activities to satisfaction in the two countries. Data are based on a questionnaire distributed to a random sample of 95 elderly individuals living in Luxembourg's urban areas and 100 in Thionville. In general, differences in factors associated with participation are greater between the two countries than among different activities within each country. The study concludes that elderly individuals derive different meaning from participation in leisure activities in Thionville and Luxembourg.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Als, G. 1980 Luxembourg: Historical, Geographical, and Economic Profile. Luxembourg: Government Information and Press Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atchley, R. 1984 The Social Forces in Later Life, 4 ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldassare, M., S. Rosenfield and K. Rook 1984 The Types of Social Relations Predicting Elderly Well-Being. Research on Aging 6: 529–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beiser, M. 1975 Components and Correlates of Mental Well-Being. Journal of Aging and Human Development 4: 153–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benoit, J. 1976 Les Grandes Vacances du Troisièmeâge. Le Monde August 13: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bley, G., M. Goodman, D. Dye and B. Harel 1972 Characteristics of Aged Participants and Non-Participants in Age-Segregated Leisure Programs. Gerontologist 12: 368–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bull, C. N. and J. B. Aucoin 1975 Voluntary Association Participation and Life Satisfaction: A Replication Note. Journal of Gerontology 30: 73–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bultena, G. L. and R. Oyler 1971 Effects of Health on Disengagement and Morale. Journal of Aging and Human Development 2: 142–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bultena, G. L. and V. Wood 1970 Leisure Orientation and Recreational Activities of Retirement Community Residents. Journal of Leisure Research 2(1): 3–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutler, S. J. 1973 Voluntary Association Participation and Life Satisfaction: A Cautionary Research Note. Journal of Gerontology 16: 335–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCarlo, T. J. 1974 Recreation Participation Patterns and Successful Aging. Journal of Gerontology 29: 416–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeGrazia, S. 1961 The Uses of Time. In Aging and Leisure. R. W. Kleemeier, ed. Pp. 113–153. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffield, B. and J. Long 1977 Patterns of Outdoor Recreation in Scotland. Edinburgh: Universtiy of Edinburgh Tourism and Recreation Research Unit.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumazedier, J. 1974 Society of Leisure. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J. N. and D. L. Klemmack 1973 Correlates of Life Satisfaction: A Reexamination. Journal of Gerontology 28: 497–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francken, D. A. and W. F. van Raaij 1981 Satisfaction with Leisure Time Activities. Journal of Leisure Research 13: 337–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, L. K. 1978 The Impact of Personality and Social Status Factors upon Levels of Activity and Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Gerontology 33: 840–847.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graney, M. 1975 Happiness and Social Participation in Aging. Journal of Gerontology 30: 497–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillemard, A.-M. 1972 La Retraite: Une Mort Sociale. Paris: Mouton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillemard, A.-M. 1975 Gerontology, a Relatively New Area of Social Science in France. Gerontologist 15: 212–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillemard, A.-M., and R. Lenoir 1974 Retraite et Change Social. Paris: Centre d'étude des mouvements sociaux.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havighurst, R. J. 1961 The Nature and Values of Meaningful Free-Time Activity. In Aging and Leisure. R. W. Kleemeier, ed. Pp. 309–344. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havighurst, R. J. 1973 Social Roles, Work, Leisure, and Education. In the Psychology of Adult Development and Aging. C. Eisdorfer and M. P. Lawton, eds. Pp. 598–618. Washington: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havighurst, R. J. and K. Feigenbaum 1968 Leisure and Life-Style. In Middle Age and Aging. B. L. Neugarten, ed. Pp. 347–353. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havighurst, R. J., B. Neugarten, J. Munnichs and H. Thomae, eds. 1969 Adjustment to Retirement. Amsterdam: Van Gorcum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. 1980 Outdoor Recreation Participation: A Comparative Analysis. Leisure Sciences 3: 129–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M. P. 1978 Leisure Activities for the Aged: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences 438: 71–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemon, B., V. Bengtson and J. Peterson 1972 An Exploration of the Activity of Aging: Activity Types and Life Satisfaction Among In-Movers to a Retirement Community. Journal of Gerontology 27: 511–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Longino, C. and C. Kart 1982 Explicating Activity Theory: A Formal Replication. Journal of Gerontology 37: 713–722.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAvoy, L. 1979 The Leisure Preferences, Problems, and Needs of the Elderly. Journal of Leisure Research 11: 40–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, S. J. 1968 The Social Dilemma of the Aging Leisure Participant. In Middle Age and Aging. B. L. Neugarten, ed. Pp. 366–374. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, A. and G. Godbey 1978 The Effect of Entering an Age-Segregated Environment upon the Leisure Activity Pattern of Older Adults. Journal of Leisure Research 10: 177–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmore, E. 1979 Predictors of Successful Aging. Gerontologist 19: 427–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmore, E. 1983 Cross-Cultural Research: State of the Art. Research on Aging 5: 45–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragheb, M. G. and C. A. Griffith 1982 The Contribution of Leisure Participation and Leisure Satisfaction to Life Satisfaction of Older Persons. Journal of Leisure Research 14: 295–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, M. W. and A. Foner 1968 Aging and Society. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreyer, R., D. W. Lime and D. R. Williams 1984 Characterizing the Influence of Past Experience of Recreation Behavior. Journal of Leisure Research 16: 34–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Service Central de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques 1983 1981 Census Materials (unpublished material). Luxembourg: STATEC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanas, E., P. Townsend, D. Wedderbum, H. Friis, P. Milhoj and J. Stehouwer 1968 Older People in Three Industrial Societies. New York: Atherton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R. V. 1983 Agency Interaction: Meeting the Outdoor Recreational Needs of the Elderly. In Recreation Planning and Management. S. R. Lieber and D. R. Fesenmaier, eds. State College, PA: Venture Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sofranko, A. J. and M. F. Nolan 1972 Early-Life Experiences and Adult Sports Participation. Journal of Leisure Research 4(1): 6–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, E. and E. H. Snyder 1983 Correlates of Participation in Adult Recreation Sports. Journal of Leisure Research 15: 27–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stover, R. G. and A. P. Garbin 1982 Explanations of Leisure Behavior: An Analysis. Journal of Leisure Research 14: 91–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W. E. and G. F. Steib 1961 Meaningful Activity in a Family Context. In Aging and Leisure. R. Kleemeier, ed. Pp. 177–211. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toseland, R. and J. Rasch 1978 Factors Contributing to Older Persons' Satisfaction with their Communities. Gerontologist 18: 395–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarca, B. 1974 Les Personnes âgées et Leur Cadre de vie à Paris XVIIIe. Paris: Centre de recherche et de documentation sur la consommation.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sered, S.S. Leisure participation and satisfaction in two European communities. J Cross-Cultural Gerontol 2, 151–170 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00116670

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00116670

Key Words

Navigation