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Articles/Articles

Conceptualizing Meaning-Making through Leisure Experiences

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Pages 167-194 | Published online: 02 Jul 2013
 

Abstract

There is a gap in knowledge concerning a full understanding of the meanings that people seek to obtain within or from leisure engagements. Understanding these meanings is a foundational knowledge in promoting, strengthening, and changing healthy leisure behavior in society, consequently the need to synthesize what is currently known and offer direction for research is necessary. This paper systematically explains the key meanings that people seek to achieve via leisure, based on a comprehensive literature review. This literature review led to the identification of several overarching leisure-generated meaning groups : (1) connection/belonging, (2) identity, (3) freedom/autonomy, (4) power/control, and (5) competence/mastery. The literature review also suggested that when people achieve these meanings, they frequently experience outcomes of : (a) positive emotions, (b) positive thought-action and (c) human growth and development. Each of these overarching meanings and outcomes is described, and implications for research are discussed.

Résumé

Il existe un déficit de connaissances en termes de compréhension des significations que les gens souhaitent obtenir à même, ou à partir des occasions de loisirs. La compréhension de ces significations est une connaissance de base nécessaire pour être en mesure de faire la promotion, de renforcer et de modifier les bonnes habitudes de loisirs de la société. Par conséquent, il s’avère nécessaire de résumer les connaissances actuelles et de proposer une direction de recherche. Par le biais d’une analyse documentaire, cet article explique de façon systématique les principales significations que les gens cherchent à obtenir à travers le loisir. Cette analyse a permis d’identifier plusieurs groupes de significations dominants générés par le loisir : 1) connexion/sentiment d’appartenance, 2) l’identité, 3) liberté/autonomie, 4) pouvoir/contrôle et 5) compétence/maîtrise. L’analyse documentaire suggère également que lorsque les gens atteignent ces significations, ils font l’expérience a) d’émotions positives b) de pensée-action positive et c) de développement et croissance humaine. L’article présente les significations et les résultats importants qui en découlent et cerne les incidences pour la recherche.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heather Porter

Heather R. Porter, Yoshitaka Iwasaki and John Shank

Conceptualizing meaning-making through leisure experiences

Yoshitaka Iwasaki

Heather R. Porter, Yoshitaka Iwasaki and John Shank

Conceptualizing meaning-making through leisure experiences

John Shank

Heather R. Porter, Yoshitaka Iwasaki and John Shank

Conceptualizing meaning-making through leisure experiences

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