Understanding leisure’s impacts on sources of life worth living: a multi-domain approach

ABSTRACT

Although leisure’s relationships with well-being have been widely studied, the literature lacks non-Western and eudaimonic perspectives. Moreover, leisure researchers have often focused exclusively on leisure. This leaves leisure’s impacts on well-being compared to other life domains understudied. The purpose of this study is to identify various sources of ikigai or ‘life worth living’ in Japanese and to explore leisure’s influences on these sources. The secondary, thematic analysis was applied to data from 27 photo-elicitation interviews with Japanese university students. Five main themes were identified. Self referred to personal standards with which students evaluated the value of their activities and relationships. Tanoshimi, or enjoyment, provided present-focused experiences, positive short-term goals and rewards, and elements of novelty. Shigoto, or work, gave students roles, goals and motivations, and a sense of growth and achievement. Self-care replenished physical, mental, and social resources to continue tanoshimi and shigoto. In authentic relationships, students shared valuable activities with their significant others and exchanged support. Leisure allowed for self-expression, while most tanoshimi activities were deemed as leisure. Some shigoto activities were serious leisure. Leisure activities were also used to do self-care and to maintain authentic relationships.

KEYWORDS:

• Eudaimonic well-being
• ikigai
• leisure
• meaning in life
• thematic analysis
• photo-elicitation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shintaro Kono

Shintaro Kono is an assistant professor of leisure studies in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on the relationship between leisure and subjective well-being in global contexts.

Shinichi Nagata

Shinichi Nagata is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences at University of Tsukuba, Japan. His research focuses on leisure and mental health.