Combating the Suicide Epidemic: The Effects of Leisure Engagement on the Incidence of Depression and Poor Life Satisfaction in Soldiers

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship of leisure engagement to levels of depression and life satisfaction in U.S. Army Soldiers. The relationship between overall time engaging in leisure, as well as categories of physically active and sedentary leisure, on the incidence of depression and poor life satisfaction were examined. Results from self-report survey of 230 soldiers revealed higher amounts of time spent engaged in leisure correlated with reported lower levels of depression and higher life satisfaction. The categories physically active and sedentary leisure did not demonstrate a distinct relationship to levels of depression, but both positively related to life satisfaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• leisure
• life satisfaction
• military
• suicide

Acknowledgments

The author gratefully acknowledges LTC Kathleen Yancosek and LTC(R) Yvette Woods for their guidance and assistance, which made this article possible.