The majority of grandparents in the United States are married and do not reside with their grandchild(ren) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014; Wu, 2018). The life stage of encore adulthood between 55 and 75 years old (Moen, 2016) often overlaps with grandparenthood. Time with grandchildren, and more broadly shared leisure time within couples during encore adulthood is minimally studied, this study provides insight to the process of family leisure among grandparent couples. Guided by life course and critical feminist perspectives, this qualitative inquiry examined the process of family leisure among grandparent couples during the life stage of encore adulthood (Daly, and Beaton, 2005; Moen, 2016). The results of this study, utilizing the method of constructivist grounded theory, present a theory grounded in lived experiences of 10 grandparent couples (Charmaz, 2014; Daly, 2007). The family leisure experiences with grandchildren model is presented with three components: life course dimensions, engaging in family leisure, and relationships within the couple and with grandchildren. / Doctor of Philosophy / The purpose of this study was to understand how grandparent couples between the ages of 55 and 75 years navigate family leisure experiences. Family leisure is defined as time spent together by grandparents and grandchildren in free time or recreational activities. Through in-person interviews, I interviewed each partner in 10 couples. Criteria to participate in the study included: (a) both members of the couple were able and willing to participate in interviews, (b) both members of the couple were in encore adulthood (between 55 and 75 years), (c) couples were in relationships with each other for at least five years, and (d) couples had grandchild(ren). Participants were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, an in-person interview, and a reflective journal. All participants completed the demographic questionnaire and five individuals submitted a reflective journal. On average, interviews lasted 64 minutes. After interviews were transcribed, they were analyzed at the couple level. Grounded in the experiences of the 10 couples, the findings resulted in a model that illustrates how they performed family leisure with their grandchildren. Grandparent couples indicated that leisure with their grandchildren contributed to the way they thought about and talked about their family relationships. The grandparent couples described how instrumental their children were in allowing access to grandchildren for family leisure. Grandparent couples’ experiences illustrated that family leisure with grandchildren was more meaningful to their couple relationship than other shared recreational activities, yet family leisure required navigating family relationships such as with in-laws and children. Implications of research and future research are provided.

The purpose of this study was to examine family communication within the Core and Balance Model of Family Leisure Functioning. This was accomplished using path analysis, specifically using a mediator model. Family leisure was measured using the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP), family functioning using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES II), and family communication using the Family Communication Scale (FCS). The sample was youth (n = 90) and parents (n = 123) from 25 different states in the US. Family leisure involvement predicted family functioning variables from the youth and family perspectives, but only partially from the parent perspective. Family leisure also predicted family communication from the youth and family perspectives, but not from the parent perspective. Family communication predicted family functioning from all of the perspectives. Path analyses from the youth perspective indicated that the relationship between core family leisure and family flexibility was mediated by family communication, as well as the relationship between balance family leisure and family cohesion. Path analyses from the parent perspective indicated the same mediation by communication as the youth, with an addition of the mediation of the relationship between balance family leisure and family flexibility. The data indicated that family communication does mediate some of the relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families that include children with developmental disabilities. The sample consisted of 154 families (154 parents and 62 youth). Data were analyzed from the parent, youth, and family perspective. The Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. FACES II was used to measure family functioning. A scale based upon the definition, classification, and systems of support manual of the American Association on Mental Retardation adapted by Dyches was used to measure the level of support needed by the child with a developmental disability. Blocked multiple regression analysis indicated a positive relationship between core family leisure and family cohesion, adaptability and overall family functioning, but the analyses indicated no relationship between balance family leisure and family cohesion, adaptability, and overall family functioning from all three perspectives. Results also indicated that family functioning and family leisure involvement were very similar between traditional families and families including children with developmental disabilities. Implications for practitioners and recommendations for further research are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine to the contribution of fathers' involvement in family leisure to aspects of family functioning. The sample consisted of 647 families of fathers and a youth from throughout the United States. The Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. FACES II was used to measure family functioning. Results from the father and youth perspective indicated significant relationships between father involvement in both core and balance family leisure to various aspects of family functioning. Core family leisure involvement was the only family leisure involvement variable related to family adaptability from the youth perspective. From both the father and youth perspective, core family leisure satisfaction was the single strongest predictor of all aspects of family functioning. Findings provide implications for fathers, families, scholars, professionals, and policy makers.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and family leisure satisfaction to aspects of family functioning and satisfaction with family life among urban Russian families. Specifically, this study examined how both family leisure involvement (core and balance) and family leisure satisfaction contributed to the explanation of variance in family functioning and satisfaction with family life. The behavioral factor of family alcohol consumption was also included in the analysis. Furthermore, because the data were nested in families, and because most family leisure research has been limited to individual-level analyses, this study accounted for family-level variance by incorporating mixed modeling in addition to accounting for individual level variance. The sample consisted of 597 families residing in urban Russia with a child between the ages of 11 and 15. The Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES II) was used to measure family functioning. Mixed model analysis indicated core family leisure satisfaction was the single strongest predictor of all aspects of family functioning as well as satisfaction with family life from the family perspective. There were also positive relationships between both core and balance family leisure involvement to various aspects of family functioning. Analysis further indicated a significant negative relationship between alcohol consumption and both family functioning and satisfaction with family life. These relationships were significant even when accounting for the variance explained by demographic variables of age, income, marital status, and ethnicity. Findings support existing family leisure research. This study, however, goes beyond existing research by accounting for family-level variance as well as accounting for the role alcohol consumption plays when explaining variance in family functioning and satisfaction with family life. Findings provide implications for urban Russian families, scholars, professionals, and policy makers.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families with an adolescent in mental health treatment. The sample (N=181) was obtained by sampling parents and adolescents enrolled in mental health treatment at Heritage Schools. Of the 181 participants, 52 cases consisted of matched parent and youth responses, 24 cases consisted of just parent responses, and 53 cases consisted of just adolescent responses. It was hypothesized that there would be a relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families with youth in mental health treatment, and that when comparing this sample to a sample of normative families there would be differences between their family functioning and family leisure involvement. Findings indicated significant differences across all family functioning variables and some differences in family leisure involvement variables between the two samples. Findings also indicated significant positive relationships between family leisure and family functioning variables from the parent and youth perspectives in the sample of families with youth in mental health treatment. Recommendations for further research and implications for practitioners are discussed.

ABSTRACT This qualitative study utilized a systems theory approach and followed the premise that families are systems that seek a balanced state, interact with their environment, and are goal directed to explore the impact of anaphylaxis on families from a parental perspective. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of family leisure in families while living with a child diagnosed with anaphylaxis. This was done by exploring parental meanings and experiences of living with anaphylaxis and how this impacted their family leisure. Five research questions guided the inquiry relating to experiences and meanings of anaphylaxis, experiences and participation in family leisure, valuations and meanings of family leisure, caregiving as a constraint to family leisure, and gender considerations. A local support group for families and individuals living with anaphylaxis (WRASE) was contacted and aided in identifying parents who would be interested in participating in this study. Specific attention was given to obtaining a sample that included different allergies, ages of children, and number of children in the household. Four families were selected and both parents were interviewed separately in all but one case. Four core themes emerged from the in-depth interviews and included An Emotional Journey, Seeking Community Support and Dealing with Negative Feedback, Impact on Family Leisure, and The Increased Domestic Workload and Changing Role of Mother. In essence, parents experienced intense feelings of fear, paranoia, and stress as they sought to manage their child’s allergy and these feelings were just as intense during their family leisure time. Role changes and strain were particularly severe for the mothers in this study. The parents of children with anaphylaxis have received little attention in social science research to date. This research adds to the literature on chronic illness and also offers new insight into how anaphylaxis affects family leisure. Key findings in this area were the lack of opportunities for travel and social isolation. Furthermore, it was found that leisure, although often thought to be beneficial in managing stress and improving family functioning, may not be available to those living with anaphylaxis.

ABSTRACT This qualitative study utilized a systems theory approach and followed the premise that families are systems that seek a balanced state, interact with their environment, and are goal directed to explore the impact of anaphylaxis on families from a parental perspective. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of family leisure in families while living with a child diagnosed with anaphylaxis. This was done by exploring parental meanings and experiences of living with anaphylaxis and how this impacted their family leisure. Five research questions guided the inquiry relating to experiences and meanings of anaphylaxis, experiences and participation in family leisure, valuations and meanings of family leisure, caregiving as a constraint to family leisure, and gender considerations. A local support group for families and individuals living with anaphylaxis (WRASE) was contacted and aided in identifying parents who would be interested in participating in this study. Specific attention was given to obtaining a sample that included different allergies, ages of children, and number of children in the household. Four families were selected and both parents were interviewed separately in all but one case. Four core themes emerged from the in-depth interviews and included An Emotional Journey, Seeking Community Support and Dealing with Negative Feedback, Impact on Family Leisure, and The Increased Domestic Workload and Changing Role of Mother. In essence, parents experienced intense feelings of fear, paranoia, and stress as they sought to manage their child’s allergy and these feelings were just as intense during their family leisure time. Role changes and strain were particularly severe for the mothers in this study. The parents of children with anaphylaxis have received little attention in social science research to date. This research adds to the literature on chronic illness and also offers new insight into how anaphylaxis affects family leisure. Key findings in this area were the lack of opportunities for travel and social isolation. Furthermore, it was found that leisure, although often thought to be beneficial in managing stress and improving family functioning, may not be available to those living with anaphylaxis.

Tyrimo objektas – jaunesniojo mokyklinio amžiaus vaikų ir jų tėvų požiūris į laisvalaikį ir jo turinį šeimoje. Tyrimo tikslas – atskleisti jaunesniojo mokyklinio amžiaus vaikų ir jų tėvų laisvalaikio turinį bei požiūrį į laisvalaikį šeimoje.Tyrimo metodika: siekiant atskleisti vaikų ir tėvų požiūrį į laisvalaikį šeimoje bei laisvalaikio turinį, buvo atlikta tėvų (globėjų) ir vaikų anketinė apklausa. / In an era of rapid scientific, technical progress, economic and cultural changes, the meaning of children‘s leisure time activities becomes very important to their education and socialization. During leisure time activities children undergo various situations during which they gain social experience, accumulate real-life experience, foster the culture of communication, and expand their knowledge. The subject – young school-children and their parent’s point of view on leisure and its contents.

The purpose of this study was to discover what families perceive as the benefits of participating in family volunteering; specifically service missions and the substantive impact the experience had on the families. A grounded theory approached was used. Five families were identified through a criteria-based snowball sampling technique. The data were analyzed using constant comparison. Based on the data analysis a core category emerged that encapsulated the result of the family service experience. The core category was coined, "family deepening." Family deepening encompassed the essence of the process the families in this study experienced. In order to achieve family deepening the participants in this study participated in a purposive, unique, shared, interactive, and challenging experience. Additionally, they experienced sacrifice. All these attributes appeared to contribute to the process of achieving a family deepening experience.