ABSTRACT

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to alter daily life and its long-term impact remains unknown, research is needed to examine the effects of this unprecedented pandemic on public health and well-being. Leisure has the potential to facilitate personal growth and to serve as a vehicle for personal transformation under stressful circumstances. The purpose of the study is two-fold: (1) to explore leisure experiences and participation during the COVID-19 global pandemic; and (2) to examine how leisure experiences and participation contribute to stress-related growth during this public health crisis. A total of 470 U.S. residents completed an online survey in July 2020. The results indicated a decline in participation for all types of leisure activities. Changes in leisure activities varied by age and income but social activities had the most substantial decline, followed by outdoor and physical activities. Leisure needs, satisfaction, and social activities were statistically significant predictors of stress-related growth during the pandemic. These findings provide further understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted engagement in leisure activities, and additional evidence that participating in leisure can facilitate personal growth during periods of adversity.

摘要

由于 COVID-19 大流行继续改变日常生活，其长期影响仍然未知，因此需要进行研究，以检验这种史无前例的大流行对公众健康和福祉的影响。休闲具有促进​​个人成长的潜力，并可以作为压力环境下个人转变的工具。该研究的目的有两个：（1）探索 COVID-19 全球大流行期间的休闲体验和参与；(2) 研究在这场公共卫生危机期间，休闲体验和参与如何促进与压力相关的增长。2020 年 7 月，共有 470 名美国居民完成了一项在线调查。结果表明，所有类型的休闲活动的参与度都有所下降。休闲活动的变化因年龄和收入而异，但社交活动下降幅度最大，其次是户外和体育活动。休闲需求、满意度和社交活动是大流行期间压力相关增长的统计学显着预测因子。这些发现提供了对 COVID-19 大流行如何影响参与休闲活动的进一步理解，并提供了更多证据表明参与休闲可以促进逆境期间的个人成长。