Skip to main content
Log in

The Role of Leisure Centrality in University Students’ Self-satisfaction and Academic Intrinsic Motivation

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine the role of leisure in undergraduate students’ education. In particular, the study investigated the relationships among leisure centrality, self-satisfaction, and academic intrinsic motivation. Using a sample drawn from university students in Singapore, this study examined a hypothesized structural model. The results showed that leisure centrality had positive effects on both self-satisfaction and intrinsic motivation, and leisure centrality had a mediated relationship with academic intrinsic motivation through self-satisfaction. The findings of this study expand the knowledge of the consequential effects of leisure centrality by observing university students.

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.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amin, Z., Tani, M., Eng, K. H., Samarasekara, D. D., & Huak, C. Y. (2009). Motivation, study habits, and expectations of medical students in Singapore. Medical Teacher, 31(12), e560–e569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argyle, M. (1987). The psychology of happiness. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson, J. W., & Birch, D. (1970). The dynamics of action. New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayub, N. (2010). Effect of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on academic performance. Pakistan Business Review, 8, 363–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, R., Armour, K., Kirk, D., Jess, M., Pickup, I., Sandford, R., et al. (2009). The educational benefits claimed for physical education and school sport: An academic review. Research Papers in Education, 24(1), 1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbieri, C., & Sotomayor, S. (2013). Surf travel behavior and destination preferences: An application of the serious leisure inventory and measure. Tourism Management, 35, 111–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, L. A. (2007). “Winners” and “losers”: The effects of being allowed or denied entry into competitive extracurricular activities. Journal of Leisure Research, 39(2), 316–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beggs, B. A., Elkins, D. J., & Stitt, J. E. (2004). Motivation for participation in recreational sports. Recreational Sports Journal, 28(1), 65–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M., & Dijkstra, T. (1985). Efficient estimation via linearization in structural models. In P. R. Krishnaiah (Ed.), Multivariate analysis VI (pp. 9–42). Amsterdam, The Netherlands: North-Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergin, D. A. (1992). Leisure activity, motivation, and academic achievement in high school students. Journal of Leisure Research, 24(3), 225–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binnewies, C., Sonnentag, S., & Mojza, E. J. (2010). Recovery during the weekend and fluctuations in weekly job performance: A week-level study examining intra-individual relationships. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83(2), 419–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunborg, G. S., Mentzoni, R. A., & Frøyland, L. R. (2014). Is video gaming, or video game addiction, associated with depression, academic achievement, heavy episodic drinking, or conduct problems? Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 3(1), 27–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cetin, B. (2015). Academic motivation and self-regulated learning in predicting academic achievement in college. Journal of International Education Research, 11(2), 95–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, I. Y., & Chang, W. Y. (2012). The effect of student learning motivation on learning satisfaction. International Journal of Organizational Innovation, 4(3), 281–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y. C., Li, R. H., & Chen, S. H. (2013). Relationships among adolescents’ leisure motivation, leisure involvement, and leisure satisfaction: A structural equation model. Social Indicators Research, 110, 1187–1199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. H., & Schroth, C. A. (2010). Examining relationships between academic motivation and personality among college students. Learning and Individual Differences, 20(1), 19–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cokley, K. O., Bernard, N., Cunningham, D., & Motoike, J. (2001). A psychometric investigation of the academic motivation scale using a United States sample. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34(2), 109–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, D. (1993). Leisure based social support, leisure dispositions and health. Journal of Leisure Research, 25(4), 350–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, D., & Iso-Ahola, S. E. (1993). Leisure and health: The role of social support and self-determination. Journal of Leisure Research, 25(2), 111–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daguplo, M. S. (2015). Needs satisfaction and academic intrinsic motivation of education students. Journal of Educational and Human Resource Development, 3, 24–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davie, S. (2017). Singapore students suffer from high levels of anxiety. The Straits Times. Retrieved October 10, 2019, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/spore-students-suffer-from-highlevels-of-anxiety-study.

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, S. (2006). Physical exercise and psychological well-being. South African Journal of Psychology, 36(2), 357–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan, W., & Williams, C. M. (2010). The effects of parental involvement on students’ academic self-efficacy, engagement and intrinsic motivation. Educational psychology, 30(1), 53–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fawcett, L. M., Garton, A. F., & Dandy, J. (2009). Role of motivation, self-efficacy and parent support in adolescent structured leisure activity participation. Australian Journal of Psychology, 61(3), 175–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Field, T., Diego, M., & Sanders, C. E. (2001). Exercise is positively related to adolescents' relationships and academics. Adolescence, 36(141), 105–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrester, S. (2014). The benefits of campus recreation. Corvallis, OR: NIRSA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, C. K., Barr-Anderson, D., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Wall, M. (2010). Physical activity and sports team participation: Associations with academic outcomes in middle school and high school students. Journal of School Health, 80(1), 31–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, D., & Abdullah, J. (2004). Holiday taking and the sense of well-being. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(1), 103–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfried, A. E. (1985). Academic intrinsic motivation in elementary and junior high school students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 77(6), 631–645.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanus, M. D., & Fox, J. (2015). Assessing the effects of gamification in the classroom: A longitudinal study on intrinsic motivation, social comparison, satisfaction, effort, and academic performance. Computers & Education, 80, 152–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harter, S. (1981). A new self-report scale of intrinsic versus extrinsic orientation in the classroom: Motivational and informational components. Developmental Psychology, 17(3), 300–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haynes, T. L., Daniels, L. M., Stupnisky, R. H., Perry, R. P., & Hladkyj, S. (2008). The effect of attributional retraining on mastery and performance motivation among first-year college students. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 30(3), 198–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller, D., Watson, D., & Ilies, R. (2004). The role of person versus situation in life satisfaction: A critical examination. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 574–600.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hills, P., Argylea, M., & Reevesb, R. (2000). Individual differences in leisure satisfactions: An investigation of four theories of leisure motivation. Personality and Individual Differences, 28(4), 763–779.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holder, M. D., Coleman, B., & Sehn, Z. L. (2009). The contribution of active and passive leisure to children's well-being. Journal of Health Psychology, 14(3), 378–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, C. E., Tsai, C. Y., & Lee, S. C. (2014). A study of the influence of college students’ exercise and leisure motivations on the leisure benefits–using leisure involvement as a moderator. International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation, 8(8), 2382–2386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S. (1994). Preliminary development and validation of a multidimensional life satisfaction scale for children. Psychological Assessment, 6(2), 149–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Laughlin, J. E., Ash, C., & Gilman, R. (1998). Further validation of the multidimensional students' life satisfaction scale. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 16(2), 118–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iso-Ahola, S. E., & Mannell, R. C. (2004). Leisure and health. In J. T. Haworth & A. J. Veal (Eds.), Work and leisure (pp. 184–199). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwasaki, Y., & Mannell, R. C. (1999). The effects of leisure beliefs and coping strategies on stress-health relationships: A field study. Leisure/Loisir, 24(1–2), 3–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jõesaar, H., Hein, V., & Hagger, M. S. (2011). Peer influence on young athletes’ need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and persistence in sport: A 12-month prospective study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12(5), 500–508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joudrey, A. D., & Wallace, J. E. (2009). Leisure as a coping resource: A test of the job demand-control-support model. Human Relations, 62(2), 195–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jun, J., Kyle, G. T., Vlachopoulos, S. P., Theodorakis, N. D., Absher, J. D., & Hammitt, W. E. (2012). Reassessing the structure of enduring leisure involvement. Leisure Sciences, 34(1), 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennelly, M., Moyle, B., & Lamont, M. (2013). Constraint negotiation in serious leisure: A study of amateur triathletes. Journal of Leisure Research, 45(4), 466–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., Dattilo, J., & Heo, J. (2011). Taekwondo participation as serious leisure for life satisfaction and health. Journal of Leisure Research, 43(4), 545–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimball, A., & Freysinger, V. J. (2003). Leisure, stress, and coping: The sport participation of collegiate student-athletes. Leisure Sciences, 25(2–3), 115–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuykendall, L., Boemerman, L., & Zhu, Z. (2018). The importance of leisure for subjective well-being. Handbook of well-being. Salt Lake City, UT: DEF Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuykendall, L., Tay, L., & Ng, V. (2015). Leisure engagement and subjective well-being: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 141, 364–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyle, G., Graefe, A., Manning, R., & Bacon, J. (2003). An examination of the relationship between leisure activity involvement and place attachment among hikers along the Appalachian Trail. Journal of Leisure Research, 35(3), 249–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyle, G. T., & Mowen, A. J. (2005). An examination of the leisure involvement—Agency commitment relationship. Journal of Leisure Research, 37(3), 342–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H. W., Shin, S., Bunds, K. S., Kim, M., & Cho, K. M. (2014). Rediscovering the positive psychology of sport participation: Happiness in a ski resort context. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 9(3), 575–590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lens, W., Lacante, M., Vansteenkiste, M., & Herrera, D. (2005). Study persistence and academic achievement as a function of the type of competing tendencies. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 20(3), 275–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leversen, I., Danielsen, A. G., Birkeland, M. S., & Samdal, O. (2012). Basic psychological need satisfaction in leisure activities and adolescents’ life satisfaction. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(12), 1588–1599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C. C. (2008). The effect of serious leisure and leisure experience on leisure commitment of bike participants in central Taiwan. Unpublished master's thesis. National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, ROC.

  • Lin, J. H., Wong, J. Y., & Ho, C. H. (2013). Promoting frontline employees' quality of life: Leisure benefit systems and work-to-leisure conflicts. Tourism Management, 36, 178–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnenbrink, E. A., & Pintrich, P. R. (2002). Motivation as an enabler for academic success. School Psychology Review, 31(3), 313–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loureiro, S. M. C., Almeida, M., & Rita, P. (2013). The effect of atmospheric cues and involvement on pleasure and relaxation: The spa hotel context. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 35, 35–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, L., & Hu, C. H. (2005). Personality, leisure experiences and happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 6(3), 325–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mardia, K. V. (1985). Mardia’s test of multinormality. In S. Kotz & N. L. Johnson (Eds.), Encyclopedia of statistical sciences (Vol. 5, pp. 217–221). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, K. E., Melnick, M. J., Barnes, G. M., Farrell, M. P., & Sabo, D. (2005). Untangling the links among athletic involvement, gender, race, and adolescent academic outcomes. Sociology of Sport Journal, 22(2), 178–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, R., & McKean, M. (2000). College students' academic stress and its relation to their anxiety, time management, and leisure satisfaction. American Journal of Health Studies, 16(1), 41–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, D. B., Tay, L., & Diener, E. (2014). Leisure and subjective well-being: A model of psychological mechanisms as mediating factors. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15, 555–578.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niehaus, K., Rudasill, K. M., & Adelson, J. L. (2012). Self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, and academic outcomes among Latino middle school students participating in an after-school program. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 34(1), 118–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Önder, İ., Beşoluk, Ş., İskender, M., Masal, E., & Demirhan, E. (2014). Circadian preferences, sleep quality and sleep patterns, personality, academic motivation and academic achievement of university students. Learning and Individual Differences, 32, 184–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., & Selig, J. P. (2012). Advantages of Monte Carlo confidence intervals for indirect effects. Communication Methods and Measures, 6(2), 77–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pressman, S. D., Matthews, K. A., Cohen, S., Martire, L. M., Scheier, M., Baum, A., et al. (2009). Association of enjoyable leisure activities with psychological and physical well-being. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71(7), 725.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randall, E. T., & Bohnert, A. M. (2009). Organized activity involvement, depressive symptoms, and social adjustment in adolescents: Ethnicity and socioeconomic status as moderators. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38(9), 1187–1198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rovai, A., Ponton, M., Wighting, M., & Baker, J. (2007). A comparative analysis of student motivation in traditional classroom and e-learning courses. International Journal on E-learning, 6(3), 413–432.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz, J. R., Ortega, F. B., Castillo, R., Martín-Matillas, M., Kwak, L., Vicente-Rodríguez, G., ... & AVENA Study Group. (2010). Physical activity, fitness, weight status, and cognitive performance in adolescents. The Journal of Pediatrics157(6), 917–922

  • Saeed, S., & Zyngier, D. (2012). How motivation influences student engagement: A qualitative case study. Journal of Education and Learning, 1(2), 252–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samaha, M., & Hawi, N. S. (2016). Relationships among smartphone addiction, stress, academic performance, and satisfaction with life. Computers in Human Behavior, 57, 321–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sato, M., Yoshida, M., Wakayoshi, K., & Shonk, D. J. (2017). Event satisfaction, leisure involvement and life satisfaction at a walking event: The mediating role of life domain satisfaction. Leisure Studies, 36(5), 605–617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Satorra, A., & Bentler, P. M. (1994). Correction to test statistics and standard errors in covariance structure analysis. In A. von Eye & C. C. Clogg (Eds.), Latent variables analysis: Applications for developmental research (pp. 399–419). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, M. L., & Kwan, B. M. (2013). Psychological need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and affective response to exercise in adolescents. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(5), 776–785.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shia, R. M. (1998). Assessing academic intrinsic motivation: A look at student goals and personal strategy. Retrieved September 1, 2019, from https://www.cet.edu/pdf/motivation.pdf.

  • Shroff, R. H., & Vogel, D. R. (2009). Assessing the factors deemed to support individual student intrinsic motivation in technology supported online and face-to-face discussions. Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 8, 59–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shroff, R. H., Vogel, D. R., & Coombes, J. (2008). Assessing individual-level factors supporting student intrinsic motivation in online discussions: A qualitative study. Journal of Information Systems Education, 19(1), 111–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonnentag, S. (2001). Work, recovery activities, and individual well-being: A diary study. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 6(3), 196–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonnentag, S. (2012). Psychological detachment from work during leisure time: The benefits of mentally disengaging from work. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21(2), 114–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonnentag, S., Binnewies, C., & Mojza, E. J. (2010). Staying well and engaged when demands are high: The role of psychological detachment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(5), 965–976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiers, A., & Walker, G. J. (2008). The effects of ethnicity and leisure satisfaction on happiness, peacefulness, and quality of life. Leisure Sciences, 31, 84–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spittle, M., Jackson, K., & Casey, M. (2009). Applying self-determination theory to understand the motivation for becoming a physical education teacher. Teaching and Teacher Education, 25(1), 190–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Standage, M., Duda, J. L., & Ntoumanis, N. (2005). A test of self-determination theory in school physical education. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 75(3), 411–433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeda, F., Noguchi, H., Monma, T., & Tamiya, N. (2015). How possibly do leisure and social activities impact mental health of middle-aged adults in Japan?: An evidence from a national longitudinal survey. PLoS ONE, 10(10), e0139777.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, G., Jungert, T., Mageau, G. A., Schattke, K., Dedic, H., Rosenfield, S., et al. (2014). A self-determination theory approach to predicting school achievement over time: The unique role of intrinsic motivation. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 39(4), 342–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Theodorakis, Y. (1996). The influence of goals, commitment, self-efficacy and self-satisfaction on motor performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 8(2), 171–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsaur, S. H., & Liang, Y. W. (2008). Serious leisure and recreation specialization. Leisure Sciences, 30(4), 325–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2008). Increases in positive self-views among high school students: Birth-cohort changes in anticipated performance, self-satisfaction, self-liking, and self-competence. Psychological Science, 19(11), 1082–1086.

    Google Scholar 

  • Utvær, B. K. S., & Haugan, G. (2016). The academic motivation scale: dimensionality, reliability, and construct validity among vocational students. Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 6(2), 17–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallerand, R. J., Pelletier, L. G., Blais, M. R., Briere, N. M., Senecal, C., & Vallieres, E. F. (1992). The Academic Motivation Scale: A measure of intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation in education. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52(4), 1003–1017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, G. J., Halpenny, E., Spiers, A., & Deng, J. (2011). A prospective panel study of Chinese-Canadian immigrants’ leisure participation and leisure satisfaction. Leisure Sciences, 33(5), 349–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiley, C. G., Shaw, S. M., & Havitz, M. E. (2000). Men's and women's involvement in sports: An examination of the gendered aspects of leisure involvement. Leisure Sciences, 22(1), 19–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, D. M., Gottfredson, D. C., Cross, A. B., Rorie, M., & Connell, N. (2010). Youth development in after-school leisure activities. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 30(5), 668–690.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, J. Y., & Lin, J. H. (2007). The role of job control and job support in adjusting service employee's work-to-leisure conflict. Tourism Management, 28(3), 726–735.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, B. J. (2002). Becoming a self-regulated learner: An overview. Theory into Practice, 41(2), 64–70.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was not funded by any organization.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Weisheng Chiu.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cho, H., Chiu, W. The Role of Leisure Centrality in University Students’ Self-satisfaction and Academic Intrinsic Motivation. Asia-Pacific Edu Res 30, 119–130 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-020-00519-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-020-00519-9

Keywords

Navigation