Applied Research in Quality of Life

, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp 575–590 | Cite as

Rediscovering the Positive Psychology of Sport Participation: Happiness in a Ski Resort Context

  • Hyun-Woo Lee
  • Sunyun Shin
  • Kyle S. Bunds
  • Minjung Kim
  • Kwang Min Cho
Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Interrelated functions of the three orientations to happiness were examined by a cross-sectional survey, in the context of a ski resort experience. Accordingly, a conceptual framework of pleasure, flow, and involvement influencing satisfaction was established. Utilizing structural equation modeling, the conceptual framework was tested by analyzing data collected from 279 participants who enjoyed skiing and/or snowboarding. Results from bootstrap test indicated that direct and total effects from flow had the highest predictive power on satisfaction. In contrast, pleasure showed higher explanatory power on subjective experiences of flow and meaning, and influenced satisfaction only by indirect effects through those elements. Together, these findings support the research model synthesizing the behavioral constructs of sport participation with subjective well-being perspectives. Moreover, the expanded model in a sporting context further evidences the functional roles of the orientations to happiness by results consistent with extant literature of positive psychology. Roles of embodiments of orientations to happiness in an action-based exercise and its implications are further discussed.

Keywords

Sport participation Positive psychology Pleasure Flow Involvement Satisfaction 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht and The International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hyun-Woo Lee
    • 1
  • Sunyun Shin
    • 2
  • Kyle S. Bunds
    • 3
  • Minjung Kim
    • 4
  • Kwang Min Cho
    • 5
  1. 1.Department of Sport ManagementFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeUSA
  2. 2.Department of Sports and Leisure StudiesYonsei UniversitySeoulKorea
  3. 3.Department of Sport ManagementFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeUSA
  4. 4.Department of Sport ManagementFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeUSA
  5. 5.Department of Sports and Leisure StudiesYonsei UniversitySeoulKorea

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