The effect of situational variables on the subjective leisure experience

Abstract

This study assesses the impact of three situational variable types, social situation, task definition, and antecedent conditions, on the leisure experience. The effect of each of these variables on leisure behavior is well‐documented. However, researchers have recently begun to develop more subjective leisure measures, as well as assessing leisure behavior. Situational effects on perceived leisure have yet to be determined. In this study, student respondents judged 60 leisure scenarios which contained manipulations of the three situational variables under study. Subjects rated each scenario on a subjective leisure scale. Results from the repeated measures ANOVA design rejected the null hypothesis that individual perceptions of leisure do not vary with the situational variables.

Key words:

• environmental variables
• situational variables
• subjective leisure