Leisure satisfaction and happiness: the moderating role of religion

ABSTRACT

This study examines the effect of leisure satisfaction on happiness and explores how religion, as a moderator, influences this effect in the Asian context. The statistical analyses were conducted using the Asia Barometer Survey 2006 and 2007 databases. The regression analysis results indicate that: (a) leisure satisfaction is positively associated with happiness in the investigated Asian countries; (b) all the religions tested are significantly positively associated with happiness except Buddhism (Theravada); and (c) religions negatively moderate the relationship between leisure satisfaction and happiness. The study serves as a new exploration to test the association between leisure satisfaction and happiness in the Asian context, and raises the importance of a more comprehensive examination of contextual differences in related research. Implications of the study are analysed and limitations and future directions are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Leisure satisfaction
• happiness
• religion

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. LY19D010013), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71872165), the Humanities and Social Science Foundation of Chinese Ministry of Education (Grant No. 18YJC630241), the Research Fund of Chinese Language Commission (Grant No. YB135-95) and the Hangzhou Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning Project (No. M19JC038). All views expressed are those of the authors and not of the sponsoring organizations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [71872165]; the Hangzhou Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning Project [No. M19JC038]; Humanities and Social Science Foundation of Chinese Ministry of Education [18YJC630241]; the Research Fund of Chinese Language Commission [YB135-95]; Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation [LY19D010013].

Notes on contributors

Huimei Liu

Huimei Liu Ph.D (orcid.org/0000-0002-6565-7762), is a Professor at Department of Philosophy, Academy of Tourism and Leisure, Zhejiang University. Her research covers philosophical, cross-cultural, and social psychological aspects of leisure studies.

Xian Chen

Xian Chen (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0987-8779), is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Philosophy, Academy of Tourism and Leisure, Zhejiang University. Her research interest is leisure studies and cultural studies.

Huiyu Zhang

Huiyu Zhang Ph.D (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1354-1581), is an associate professor at School of International Studies, Zhejiang University. Her research interest is interdisciplinary studies.