The problem of this study was to better understand spouse caregivers' leisure involvement, experience, and barriers and their relationships with perceived burden. Thirty-six wife and 19 husband caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders volunteered to participate in this study, either by mailed questionnaire or interview. Respondents were primarily female, white, with an average age of 72 years. The conclusions of the study were: (a) caregivers significantly reduce both their leisure involvement; (b) self-reported health, perceived social supports, income level, use of paid help, and leisure activity patterns are major factors associated with caregivers' leisure; and (c) leisure barriers are a significant contributor to caregivers' perceived burden. Recommendations were presented for caregivers, practitioners, and future study.

背景: 香港和廣州市是華南兩大發達城市，都面臨著人口老化的嚴峻形勢。由於醫療水準的提高，癡呆成為一個非常嚴重的公共健康問題。由於缺乏有效的治療手段，早期發現和干預成為減少認知功能損害及癡呆發病的最有效的措施。研究怎樣保護長者的認知功能對於公眾健康具有越來越重要的意義。越來越多的證據表明休閒活動有益於認知功能。研究表明體育鍛煉，腦力活動以及社會活動有益於認知健康，可以減少癡呆發病的風險。然而由於概念上的差異和研究方法的不同，使得目前的研究結果很難進行比較。由於社會背景會顯著影響休閒活動的參與，研究社會背景怎樣影響休閒活動對於長者認知功能的作用具有重要的意義。香港和廣州為華南兩大城市，其人口種族，基因，健康狀況及人口學特徵相似。然而在過去的一百多年中，由於歷史發展的不同，兩城市有著不同的社會系統。以上這些因素對於研究不同設計背景下的認知功能的對照研究提供了方便。研究兩地認識休閒活動與認知功能的關係，有助於評價不同社會環境對於休閒活動影響認知功能的以及社會因素對認知功能的影響。 / 研究目的: 本研究對於兩地長者認知功能的特點以及休閒活動的參與情況進行了比較。研究的主要目的是評估休閒活動與認知功能的關係，以及兩個城市中休閒活動與認知功能的關係。 / 方法: 這是一個橫斷面研究。557名非癡呆住在社區的長者參與了研究，其中香港260名，廣州297名。兩組長者在年齡，性別以及教育程度上沒有差異。休閒活動分為體育活動，智力活動，社會活動以及消遣活動。休閒活動的參與通過三種方式進行評估：種類，次數以及每週參與的小時數。一組評估量表包括：簡短精神狀態量表，詞語記憶，延遲回憶，詞語流暢性測驗，連線測驗，數位劃消測驗及Stroop測驗，用於評估兩地長者的認知功能。 / 兩地長者的人口學特徵，認知功能以及休閒活動的參與進行了比較，多元線性回歸用於分析每一類休閒活動與認知功能的關係，同時控制可能的混雜因素包括年齡，性別，教育程度，職業，婚姻狀況，居住情況，吸煙、酒情況，慢性疾病以及精神狀態。分層回歸用於分析每類休閒活動與認知功能的關係，同時控制其他三類休閒活動以及與認知功能顯著相關的混雜因素。 / 結果: 多元回歸分析表明與家人居住在一起者休閒活動的總類較多 (p=0.01)，休閒活動的時間較長 (p=0.02)。协方差分析檢驗顯示除了每週看電視的時間 （p=0.07），香港長者參與的休閒活動在種類，次數以及每週參與的小時數都明顯多於廣州長者，差異具有顯著性。兩地長者的認知功能測驗的分數未見顯著差異。體育活動（腦-身體鍛煉及有氧鍛煉）的種類與延遲回憶及詞語分類測驗顯著相關。智力活動與所有的認知功能測驗顯著相關。社會活動與語詞回憶和詞語流暢性測驗顯著相關。休閒活動與語詞回憶及連線測驗顯著相關。 / 多元線性回歸分析了休閒活動與認知功能的關係的同時，控制了其他三類休閒活動以及與認知功能顯著相關的協變數。分析結果顯示智力活動的種類與簡易精神狀態量表，語詞回憶，延遲回憶，詞語流暢性測驗以及數位劃消測驗顯著相關 （p<0.001）。體育活動和社會活動與認知功能未見明顯相關。消遣活動的時間與連線測驗顯著相關 （p=0.01）。休閒活動與認知功能的相關性兩地未見明顯顯著差異。 / 結論: 香港的長者參與了較多的休閒活動，但是認知功能測驗的分數與廣州長者卻沒有顯著差別。結果可能與之前的研究結果相矛盾，即參與較多的休閒活動與良好的認知功能相關，這可能與兩地的社會人口學的差異相關。以前的研究證明晚年的婚姻狀態與癡呆或者認知功能的下降相關。未婚或者喪偶的長者罹患癡呆症或者認知功能下降的風險性較高。香港未婚或喪偶長者較廣州多，或許這可以解釋為什麼香港長者參與較多的休閒活動，但是認知功能測驗卻未明顯優於廣州長者。同時也表明，除了休閒活動，社會因素（婚姻及居住狀況）對認知功能也有影響。 / 我們的研究表明參與智力活動尤其是參與各種各樣的智力活動與長者良好的認知功能相關。智力活動與認知功能的相關性在兩地沒有顯著差別，表明智力活動可在不同的社會環境中用於保護長者的認知功能。其他三類的活動與認知功能未發現有顯著相關性，這可能與智力活動的混雜效應有關，也可能與各活動之間其構成成分的重疊有關。儘管這樣，休閒活動對於認知功能的保護作用扔值得進一步研究。 / Background: The two most developed cities in southern China, Hong Kong (HK) and Guangzhou (GZ), are facing rapid population aging. As a result of improvements in medical care, dementia has emerged as a crucial public health problem. With limited treatment options available, early detection and intervention are likely to be the most effective strategies to reduce subsequent impairments and morbidity. Research into the prevention of cognitive decline among older persons is crucial for public health. There is increasing evidence that participation in leisure activities has a favorable effect on cognitive function. Studies have reported that physical exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement are beneficial for cognitive health and may reduce the risk of dementia. However, interpretation of the available evidence is hampered by conceptual discrepancies and methodological variations. As the social context may significantly influence leisure activity participation, it is interesting to explore how social contexts play a role in modulating the effects of leisure activity on cognitive function in older adults. HK and GZ are two major cities in southern China, and they share very similar ethnic, genetic, health and demographic characteristics. However, owing to differences in historical development, the two cities have been run with different social systems over the past few decades. This provided a natural case-control experiment for studying the effect of the social context on cognition. Hence, this study examined the association between leisure activity participation and cognition in the two cities to evaluate the cognitive modulating effects of leisure activities in different social environments. / Objectives of the studies: The main study objectives were to compare the cognitive characteristics and leisure activity participation of the two groups; to examine the association between leisure activity participation and cognitive function and the specific associations in HK and GZ; and to explore the modulating effect of social factors on cognitive function. / Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 557 participants aged 60 years and over without dementia. Of these, 260 were recruited in HK and 297 in GZ. The two groups were recruited with similar demographic characteristics (age, gender and education). Leisure activities were classified as physical, intellectual, social and recreational activities. Leisure activity participation was measured in terms of the total number and total hours of participation per week for each category of activities. A battery of cognitive tests including the Cantonese version of the Mini Mental State Exam (CMMSE), word list learning test, delayed recall test, Category Verbal Fluency Test (CVFT), trail making test, digit cancellation test and Stroop test were used to measure participants’ cognitive function. / Differences in the participants’ demographic characteristics, cognitive performances and leisure activity participation were computed. A multiple linear regression of cognitive performance on leisure activity was performed, while controlling for other categories of activities and potential confounders that were significantly associated with cognitive function. / Results: The multiple linear regression revealed that living arrangement had a significant positive association with the total number of leisure activities (p=0.01) and total hours of leisure activity participation (p=0.02). Analysis of covariance showed that participants in HK participated in more leisure activities than those in GZ, as measured by the total number of subtypes and hours per week, except total hours of recreational activities per week (p=0.07). No significant differences were found between the cognitive performances of the older persons in the two cities. Pearson’s correlation and x² tests were performed to identify the leisure activities and potential confounders that were significantly correlated with cognitive performance. The total number and total hours of intellectual activity were significantly correlated with CMMSE scores (p<0.001 and p<0.001).The total number of subtypes and total hours per week of intellectual activity (p<0.001 and p<0.001), social activity (p<0.001 and p<0.01) and recreational activity (p<0.001 and p<0.01) were significantly correlated with the word list learning test. The total number of physical activities (p<0.01), total number of intellectual activities (p<0.001) and total hours of intellectual activity (p<0.01) were significantly correlated with the delayed recall test. The total number of physical and intellectual activities (p<0.01 and p<0.001), and total hours of intellectual and social activity (p<0.01 and p<0.001) were correlated with the CVFT. The total number of intellectual activities (p<0.01)and total hours of recreational activity (p<0.01) were significantly correlated with the trail making test (p<0.001). The total number and total hours of intellectual activity were significantly correlated with the digit cancellation test (p<0.001 and p<0.001). The total number and total hours of intellectual activity were significantly correlation with the Stroop test (p<0.01 and p<0.001). / Multiple linear regression using the enter method was conducted to measure the association between leisure activities and cognitive performance. The results showed that the total number of intellectual activities was significantly associated with better performance on cognitive tests, including the CMMSE (p<0.001), word list learning test (p<0.001), delayed recall test (p<0.001), CVFT (p<0.001) and digit cancellation test (p=0.01). Total hours of recreational activity was significantly associated with the trail making test (p=0.01). Multiple linear regression using the enter method also revealed that marital status was significantly associated with the CMMSE (p=0.002), word list learning test (p=0.003), delayed recall test (p=0.002), trail making test (p<0.001) and digit cancellation test (p=0.01). / Conclusions: HK participants participated in more leisure activities than GZ participants. However, HK participants did not show better cognitive performance than GZ participants. This finding appears to be inconsistent with previous studies that found that participation in more leisure activities predicted better cognitive functioning. This inconsistency might be explained by socio-demographic differences between the two cities. Some previous studies have found an association between late-life marital status and the risk of cognitive impairment. Older persons who were unmarried or widowed were at higher risk of dementia or cognitive decline. There were more unmarried or widowed participants among HK participants. The results indicate that in addition to leisure activities, social factors (marital or living status) might also contribute to the preservation of cognitive function among the elderly. / Our results underscore the significance of intellectual activity, especially participation in a variety of intellectual activities, in maintaining better cognitive functioning in older persons. Furthermore, a similar significant association between intellectual activity and cognitive function was found for participants in both HK and GZ, suggesting that the protective effect of intellectual activity could be generalized to different social environments. We failed to find significant associations between physical, social and recreational activities and cognitive function. However, the protective effect of leisure activity participation is recommended for further investigation in future studies. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Su, Xiufang. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-94). / Abstracts also in Chinese; appendixes in Chinese.

This thesis investigates ego-involvement, a measure focused around the customer satisfaction and service quality assessement concept. It questions whether or not it has the potential to be a better predictor of leisure participation and leisure satisfaction than the measures of service quality that dominate leisure service assessment at present.

The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between participation in leisure activities and the self-esteem and life satisfaction of retired New Zealanders. A mail questionnaire and interviews were used to gather information from 100 retirees in Christchurch, New Zealand. The issues examined were: the individual's perceived self-esteem and life-satisfaction levels, their pre- and post-retirement leisure activities and their own personal characteristics that may be related to the types of leisure activities in which they participate. A number of hypotheses were proposed. Results from this research supported the proposed hypotheses at a 95% confidence level. There were no significant differences between catagories of retirees, classified according to such things as their leisure activities, life satisfaction and self-esteem. Results showed that although there was no relationship at such a high confidence level, there were relationships at a lower confidence level. Those retirees who participated in the questionnaire and interviews appeared to be well adjusted to retirement, and involved in a wide range of leisure activities. Overall, there was an increase in the number of activities regularly participated in after retirement. The majority rated themselves as being in very good or excellent health. Not only do those who are married and live with others participate in all types of activities, but so do those who are widowed, never married and live alone. For those who live alone, their leisure participation provides the opportunity for social interaction and skill development. "Just as the ancient Greeks believed the life of leisure required extensive preparation, so too does retirement" (Godby, 1985:179). My research suggests that those with a wide range of recreation and leisure skills adapt best to retirement. There is a need for leisure activity to be a part of pre-retirement planning. Those with limited leisure interests may need to rekindle old interests or develop new leisure pursuits so that, in retirement, they will enjoy some continuity of lifestyle.

The emergence of astrocasting on the Internet offered an opportunity to study the creation of a Social Media site, and determine the influence of the participants’ perception of this leisure activity and their motivation for it. The Night Skies Network was examined under a Social Media theoretical framework. The motivation for astrocasting was studied using the Self-Determination Theory of Motivation, and its perception as a leisure activity using the Serious Leisure Perspective. The methodology used included a focus group that provided a qualitative perspective, and an on-line questionnaire using the Serious Leisure Inventory and Measure and the Leisure Motivation Scale for quantitative data. The results showed that the Night Skies Network did meet the requirements for a Social Media site, that the participants considered astrocasting as a serious leisure activity, and that they were intrinsically motivated towards it, with a strong emphasis on the Intrinsic Motivation to Know.

The emergence of astrocasting on the Internet offered an opportunity to study the creation of a Social Media site, and determine the influence of the participants’ perception of this leisure activity and their motivation for it. The Night Skies Network was examined under a Social Media theoretical framework. The motivation for astrocasting was studied using the Self-Determination Theory of Motivation, and its perception as a leisure activity using the Serious Leisure Perspective. The methodology used included a focus group that provided a qualitative perspective, and an on-line questionnaire using the Serious Leisure Inventory and Measure and the Leisure Motivation Scale for quantitative data. The results showed that the Night Skies Network did meet the requirements for a Social Media site, that the participants considered astrocasting as a serious leisure activity, and that they were intrinsically motivated towards it, with a strong emphasis on the Intrinsic Motivation to Know.

This study investigates the existence of an ethnic separation in different settings of leisure activities. I examine the relationship between race, gender, socioeconomic status, and education with respect to the usage of popular cultural activities and high cultural activities to demonstrate the racial disparity occurring in both. A literature review pertaining to the usage of outdoor recreation, as in camping and hiking evidences the influence of racism on the disparity in Non-white participation. In contrast to out-door leisure activities, literature evidences the influence of class instead of race for the disparity in indoor leisure activities. Using the 1993 General Social Survey (GSS), I am able to arrive at the conclusion that the type of leisure chosen by an ethnic group relates much less to the educational level, economic status or the place of residence as it does to the perception of the socially constructed settings.

With the aging of our population and the higher risk of chronic illness and disability with age, more and more family members may be faced with the experience of having a relative transition into a long-term care (LTC) home. This reality necessitates greater understanding of family care partner needs to ensure wellness throughout their caring career. Using participatory action research, notions of wellness were explored for family partners in care with relatives residing in LTC homes. Using two LTC homes from a privately owned company called Specialty Care, ten family members were interviewed, followed by one focus group at each of the two LTC homes. Three major themes were revealed, each with several sub themes: (1) understanding wellness amidst challenges to keep a sense of wellness in life; (2) self-appraisal: becoming aware of personal beliefs and perceptions that influence wellness; and (3) assessing LTC homes and their influence on the experience of wellness. We not only revealed more about wellness and how it is experienced in the caring context, we also discovered leisure’s role in maintaining wellness and how embedded leisure’s influence is on the various aspects of wellness that family partners in care experience. Relationship-centred care is a framework we used to guide this study. It highlights the importance of family member needs, along with the needs of the residents and staff. With our enhanced understanding of family care partner needs, recommendations were made to the Specialty Care communities so they can work together to ensure optimal wellness is maintained for all parties, including family partners in care.

Det har uppmärksammat att det fortfarande förekommer tenn och koppar från båtbottenfärg på fritidsbåtars skrov trots förbud av båtbottenfärger med tennföreningen TBT sedan 1989 och reglering av kopparbaserade färger sedan 1999.Syftet med denna kandidatuppsats är att ge en dagslägesrapport vad gäller förekomst av tenn och koppar på fritidsbåtars skrov.Under våren 2011 har tester på 336 fritidsbåtar i tre vattenområden gjorts med hjälp av en handhållen XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence, röntgenfluorescens) som genom avläsning av en yta visar halter av olika grundämnen. Testerna utfördes på vinterförvarade fritidsbåtar &lt;12 m hos båtklubbar vid Mälaren, Storsjön och Härnösandskusten. Undersökningen visar att 73 % av båtarna i denna undersökning har halter av tenn och/eller koppar överstigande &gt;2500 ppm, vilket är det för rapporten satta riktvärdet. Det innebär att de skulle kunna tas vidare till kemisk testning med till exempel gaskromatografi kopplad till masspektrometri (GC-MS) för att avgöra exakt vilken substans färgen innehåller. Resultatet visar också att användningen av tennfärger antingen fortfarande förekommer i liten skala eller att gamla tennfärger är så pass starka att de ger utslag genom övermålade färglager. Kopparfärg verkar användas både vid ostkusten och i insjöar.Antifoulingsystem som kan ersätta bottenfärg blir allt vanligare och det dyker upp fler och fler mer miljövänliga alternativ på marknaden. Det vanligaste alternativa systemet, båttvättar, blir dock mindre miljövänligt i och med förekomst av gammal färg innehållande skadliga substanser som tvättas av i båtborsttvättar med starkt bristfällig uppsamling och rening av avfallet/slammet. / It has been noticed that tin and copper are still present in antifouling paints residing on the hulls of leisure boats, in spite of a ban of TBT-based paints since 1989 and strict regulations regarding copper-based paints since 1999.This bachelor thesis aims to give the reader a view of the current situation regarding the presence of tin and copper on the hull of leisure boats.During the spring of 2011, 336 leisure boats in three different waters were tested with a hand-held XRF analyzer (X-Ray Fluorescence). After scanning the surface of a hull the machine displays the paint’s proportions of basic elements. Testing was performed on leisure boats, winter-stored at yacht clubs connected to the lakes Mälaren, Storsjön and the coast of Härnösand. In this study 73 % of the tested boats show levels of tin and/or copper exceeding the (for this essay) set limits of 2500 parts per million, which means they could qualify for further testing, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for example, to determine the exact substances in the paints. The results also show that tin-based paints are either still in use, albeit in small scale, or that they are strong enough to detect through another layer(s) of paint. Copper-based paints seem to be used both along the east coast and in fresh-water lakes.More and more alternative antifouling systems that are capable of replacing paints while being more environmentally friendly are reaching the market. The most common alternative, to wash the boat with brushes or with a high-pressure water jet, is somewhat less environmentally friendly when the boat is painted with harmful substances and the facilities lack proper collection and sanitation of the wastewater.

Darbo problema: Laisvalaikis nuolat besikeičiantis, vienas iš visuomenės ekonominio ir socialinio vystymo rodiklių. Visos bendros laisvalaikio problemos yra neišvengiamai susijusios su visuomenės vystymosi tendencijomis, urbanizacija, mokslo ir technikos pasiekimais. Šiuolaikiniame technologijų amžiuje fizinis aktyvumas, studentų tarpe ženkliai mažėja. Aktyvias laisvalaikio praleidimo formas vis dažniau pakeičia pasyvios: kompiuteris, televizija, naujos susisiekimo priemonės. Nauji mokslo ir technikos laimėjimai pasiekė ir studentus gyvenančius provincijoje, todėl aktyvus laisvalaikis taip pat sumažėjo, o fizinės ypatybės susijusios su judėjimo galimybėmis nėra tokios geros. Mažėjant aktyviam laiko leidimui, mažėja ir fizinis pajėgumas. Darbo tikslas - apibūdinti laisvalaikio praleidimo ypatumus Sportinės rekreacijos ir turizmo programos studentų tarpe. Uždaviniai: 1. Apibūdinti pagrindines laiko struktūras, laisvalaikio sampratą, laisvalaikio sąsajas su rekreacija. 2. Atskleisti laisvalaikio praleidimo ypatumus ir būdus studentų tarpe. 3. Ištirti Lietuvos sporto universiteto Sportinės rekreacijos ir turizmo programos studentų laisvalaikio praleidimo ypatumus. Darbo objektas: Sportinės rekreacijos ir turizmo programos studentų laisvalaikis. Tyrimo metodai: Mokslinės literatūros analizė, anketinė apklausa, aprašomoji statinė analizė. Pagrindinės išvados: Remiantis tyrimo duomenimis, galima daryti išvadą, kad Lietuvos sporto universiteto, Sportinės reakreacijos ir turizmo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Job objective – The description of leisure features of occupation programs of sport recreation and tourism among students. Tasks: 1. To describe the main structures of time, the conception of leisure time and the links of leisure with recreation. 2. To reveal features of spending leisure time among students. 3. To survey the features of spending leisure of students of sport recreation and tourism program of Lithuanian sport university. Job object: Leisure of the students of sport recreation and tourism. Survey methods: literary analysis, analysis of data collection, questionnaire and descriptive statistics. According to the research, it can be concluded that the Lithuanian University of Sport, Sport recreation and tourism specialty students understands leisure as time, which can be used for yourself or as recreation - time for spiritual regeneration and relaxation. It was found that the majority of the surveyed students have enough free time, appointed for leisure and most of the time only for themselves. The main factors influencing students' leisure activities, namely: personal interests and financial / economic situation. It can be concluded that the students' desires for leisure activities in a variety of prevents to choose limited financial resources, because the majority of respondents give too little money for productive leisure. The analysis of Lithuanian University of Sport, Sport recreation and tourism of students leisure activities, can be said that the majority... [to full text]