Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Positive Leisure Science: Leisure in Family Contexts

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Positive Leisure Science

Abstract

This chapter examines the contributions that leisure can make to family life. It is essentially concerned with how leisure contributes to positive experiences and social relationships within the family unit and its implications for individual and collective well-being. ‘Family’ has risen to prominence as a focus for concern as patterns of diversity and change have become evident, with increased levels of family ‘breakdown’ eroding the traditional structures on which many welfare states were predicated and in which much moral worth has been invested. This chapter therefore examines the significance of leisure in individuals’ intimate relationships and family life and highlights its value to academic analysis as a focus for unpicking the dynamics of family at the micro level.

This chapter initially reviews the key findings of a long tradition of family leisure research which has consistently provided evidence identifying the significant role for leisure in family life. While early research shared several criticisms including its lack of theoretical underpinning and sometimes simplistic and operationalisation of family leisure, recent family leisure studies provide more sophisticated analyses. Qualitative lines of study identified family leisure as being particularly prominent in parent-child interactions and also playing a significant role in the partnerships of parents. Family leisure experiences were also identified as being valued for their contributions to the lives of individual family members, for their role in sustaining relationships between them and for the function they perform for the family as a whole. Scholars identified family leisure as being purposive in nature in which parents plan, almost with a sense of urgency, to recreate with family members with clear family outcomes in mind. The ‘fun’ and ‘pleasurable’ connotations of leisure should not obscure the importance of the opportunities they provide to fulfil the serious functions of generativity and intimacy.

This chapter moves on to focus considerably on a new theoretical model of family leisure that has suggested that different types of family leisure are directly related to different aspects of family functioning. The core and balance model offered a consistent framework from which the nature of the family leisure relationship could be examined among broad samples of families such as intact families, adoptive families, single-parent families and families with a child with a disability or a child in mental health treatment. Findings from this line of study illuminate how family leisure contributes to family functioning, communication and overall satisfaction with family life and give clear direction to professionals, policymakers and individual families on how to do it better.

Leisure in family contexts is not, however, unproblematic and is not a panacea for all family problems. Family members may struggle to access sufficient leisure time, be unlikely to prioritise family needs versus their own, or struggle with the stress and work involved in family leisure. This chapter concludes that the centrality of leisure in family interactions makes it highly significant for the emotional health and wellness of families and that a policy ‘investment’ that facilitates family leisure may therefore be fruitful.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agate, J., Zabriskie, R., Agate, S., & Poff, R. (2009). Family leisure satisfaction and satisfaction with family life. Journal of Leisure Research, 41(2), 205–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aslan, N. (2009). An examination of family leisure and family satisfaction among traditional Turkish families. Journal of Leisure Research, 41(2), 157–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, B. (2004). Family differentiation, family recreation, and symptoms of eating disorders. Unpublished master’s thesis. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brotherson, S. E., Dollahite, D. C., & Hawkins, A. J. (2005). Generative fathering and the dynamics of connection between fathers and their children. Fathering, 3(1), 1–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buswell, L. (2010). Contributions of father involvement in family leisure to family functioning. Unpublished master’s thesis, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

    Google Scholar 

  • Call, J. (2002). Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Marriages and Families, 7, 7–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christenson, O., Zabriskie, R., Eggett, D., & Freeman, P. (2006). Family acculturation, family leisure involvement, and family functioning among Mexican-Americans. Journal of Leisure Research, 38(4), 475–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Couchman, R. (1982). Family recreation: A new dynamic in family Life. Journal of Leisurability, 9(4), 4–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeFrain, J., & Asay, S. M. (2007). Strong families around the world: An introduction to the family strengths perspective. Marriage and Family Review, 41(1/2), 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodd, D., Zabriskie, R., Widmer, M., & Eggett, D. (2009). Contributions of family leisure to family functioning among families that include children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Leisure Research, 41(2), 261–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyson, L. L. (1996). The experiences of families of children with learning disabilities: Parental stress, family functioning, and sibling self-concept. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 29(3), 280–286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erich, S., & Leung, P. (1998). Factors contributing to family functioning of adoptive children with special needs: A long term outcome analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 20, 135–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, P. (2002). A place in the family: An historical interpretation of research on parental reactions to having a child with a disability. Journal of Special Education, 36, 126–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fotu, I. (2007). Family leisure involvement and family functioning in Samoa. Unpublished master’s thesis, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, P., & Zabriskie, R. (2003). Leisure and family functioning in adoptive families: Implications for therapeutic recreation. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 37(1), 73–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freysinger, V. J. (1994). Leisure with children and parental satisfaction: Further evidence of a sex difference in the experience of adult roles and leisure. Journal of Leisure Research, 26, 212–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groze, V., & Rosenthal, J. A. (1991). A structural analysis of families adopting special-needs children. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 72, 469–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, M. (2005). Family leisure and parents’ subjective identities: Gendered ways of being a ‘good parent. In T. Delamere, C. Randall, & D. Robinson (Eds.), Abstracts of papers presented at the eleventh Canadian congress on leisure research, May 17–20 (pp. 233–236). Waterloo, ON: Canadian Association for Leisure Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, M. (2006). Sport and leisure as contexts for fathering in Australian families. Leisure Studies, 25(2), 165–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes, S. R. (1991). Recreation in the family. In S. J. Bahr (Ed.), Family research: A sixty year review, 1930–1990 (pp. 387–433). New York: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holman, T. B., & Epperson, A. (1989). Family and leisure: A review of the literature with research recommendations. Journal of Leisure Research, 16, 277–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornberger, L., Zabriskie, R., & Freeman, P. (2010). Contributions of family leisure to family functioning among single-parent families. Leisure Sciences, 32(2), 143–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, S., Afifi, T., & Krause, S. (2007). The family that plays together fares better: Examining the contribution of shared family time to family resilience following divorce. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 46(3/4), 21–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iso-Ahola, S. (1984). Social psychological foundations of leisure and resultant implications for leisure counseling. In E. T. Dowd (Ed.), Leisure counseling: Concepts and applications (pp. 97–125). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, H., Zabriskie, R., & Hill, B. (2006). The contribution of couple leisure involvement, leisure time, and leisure satisfaction to marital satisfaction. Marriage and Family Review, 40(1), 69–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kay, T. A. (1998). Having it all or doing it all? The construction of women’s lifestyles in time-crunched households? Society and Leisure, 21(2), 435–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, T. A. (2001). New women, same old leisure. In S. Clough & J. White (Eds.), Women’s leisure experiences: Ages, stages and roles (pp. 113–128). Eastbourne, East Sussex: Leisure Studies Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, T. A. (2003). Leisure, gender and self in the analysis of family. World Leisure Journal, 45(4), 4–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kay, T. A. (2004). Family factors affecting sports participation. Academic review commissioned by Sport England. London: Sport England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, T. A. (2006a). Families, communities and leisure. In E. Jackson (Ed.), Leisure and the quality of life: Impacts on social, economic and cultural development (pp. 108–118). Hangzhou, Zhejiang: Zhejiang University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, T. A. (2006b, April). Where’s dad? Fatherhood in leisure studies. Leisure Studies, 25(2), 133–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, T. A. (2006c). Fathering through leisure. Leisure Studies (Editorial), 25(2), 125–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kay, T. (2009). Fathering through sport and leisure. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. (1999). Leisure behaviors and styles: Social, economic, and cultural factors. In E. L. Jackson & T. L. Burton (Eds.), Leisure studies: Prospects for the twenty-first century (pp. 135–150). State College, PA: Venture Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, D., & White, J. (1996). Family theories: An introduction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, R., Dworkin, J., & Gillman, S. (2001). Facilitating adolescents; constructive use of time in one-parent families. Applied Developmental Science, 5(3), 143–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, R. W., & Richards, M. H. (1994). Family emotions: Do young adolescents and their parents experience the same states? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 4(4), 567–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mactavish, J., & Schleien, S. (1998). Playing together growing together: Parents’ perspectives on the benefits of family recreation in families that include children with a developmental disability. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 32(3), 207–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mactavish, J., & Schleien, S. (2004). Re-injecting spontaneity and balance in family life: Parents’ perspective on recreation in families that include children with developmental disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 48(2), 123–141.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marsiglio, W. (1991). Paternal engagement activities with minor children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 53(4), 973–986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nock, S. (1998). Marriage in men’s lives. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, D. H. (1986). Circumplex model VII: Validation studies and faces III. Family Process, 25, 337–351.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, M., & Haynes, J. (1993). Successful single parents. Families in Society, 74(5), 259–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orthner, D. (1975). Leisure activity patterns and marital satisfaction over the marital career. Journal of Marriage and Family, 37, 91–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orthner, D. K., & Mancini, J. A. (1991). Benefits of leisure for family bonding. In B. L. Driver, P. J. Brown, & G. L. Peterson (Eds.), Benefits of leisure (pp. 289–301). State college, PA: Venture Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poff, R., Zabriskie, R., & Townsend, J. (2010). Modeling family leisure and related family constructs: A national study of U.S. parent and youth perspectives. Journal of Leisure Research, 42(3), 365–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poff, R., Zabriskie, R., & Townsend, J. (2010). Australian family leisure: Modelling parent and youth data. Annals of Leisure Research, 13(3), 420–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, L., & Schmiege, C. (1993). Problems and strengths of single-parent families: Implications for practice and policy. Family Relations, 42(3), 277–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholl, K., McAvoy, L., Rynders, J., & Smith, J. (2003). The influence of inclusive outdoor recreation experience on families that have a child with a disability. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 37(1), 38–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, S. M. (1992). Dereifying family leisure: An examination of women’s and men’s everyday experiences and perceptions of family time. Leisure Sciences, 14, 271–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, S., & Dawson, D. (2001). Purposive leisure: Examining parental discourses on family activities. Leisure Sciences, 23, 217–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K., Freeman, P., & Zabriskie, R. (2009). An examination of family communication within the core and balance model of family leisure functioning. Family Relation, 58, 79–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K., Taylor, S., Hill, B., & Zabriskie, R. (2004). Family functioning and leisure in single-parent families. In W. T. Borrie & D. C. Kerstetter (Eds.), Abstracts from the 2004 leisure research symposium (p. 53). Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Parks Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunseri, P. A. (2004). Family functioning and residential treatment outcomes. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 22(1), 33–53. doi:10.1300/J007v22n01_03.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swinton, A., Freeman, P., Zabriskie, R., & Fields, P. (2008). Nonresident fathers’ family leisure patterns during parenting time with their children. Fathering, 6(3), 205–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taunt, H., & Hastings, R. (2002). Positive impact of children with developmental disabilities on their families: A preliminary study. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 37, 410–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Townsend, J., & Zabriskie, R. (2010). Family leisure among families with a child in mental health treatment: Therapeutic recreation implications. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 44(1), 11–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanDenBerghe, E. (2000). The enduring, happy marriage: Findings and implications from research. In D. C. Dollahite (Ed.), Strengthening our families (pp. 16–28). Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zabriskie, R. (2000). An examination of family and leisure behavior among families with middle school aged children. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Indiana University, Bloomington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zabriskie, R., & Freeman, P. (2004). Contributions of family leisure to family functioning among transracial adoptive families. Adoption Quarterly, 7(3), 49–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zabriskie, R., & McCormick, B. (2001). The influences of family leisure patterns on perceptions of family functioning. Family Relations, 50(3), 281–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zabriskie, R., & McCormick, B. (2003). Parent and child perspectives of family leisure involvement and satisfaction with family life. Journal of Leisure Research, 35(2), 163–189.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Recreation Management, Brigham Young University, Provo, USA

    Ramon B. Zabriskie

  2. School of Sport and Education, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK

    Tess Kay

Authors
  1. Ramon B. Zabriskie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tess Kay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramon B. Zabriskie .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Educacao e Psicologia, Depto. Psicologia, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal

    Teresa Freire

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zabriskie, R.B., Kay, T. (2013). Positive Leisure Science: Leisure in Family Contexts. In: Freire, T. (eds) Positive Leisure Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5058-6_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation