Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 84 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-77).

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure satisfaction and satisfaction with family life. Zabriskie's Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure core, balance, and total family leisure satisfaction. The Satisfaction With Family Life Scale (SWFL) an adaptation of Diener, Emmons, Larsen, and Griffin's satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), done by Zabriskie and McCormick, was used to measure satisfaction with family life. The sample consisted of 898 parent and youth pairs from throughout the United States. Results indicated that there was a relationship between all family leisure satisfaction variables and satisfaction with family life. Data collected from both parents and youth in families provided insight into the nature of the relationship between family leisure satisfaction and satisfaction with family life. At the parent, youth, and family levels, core family leisure satisfaction had the most significant relationship with satisfaction with family life. These findings provide specific implications for researchers, parents, and professionals who work with families.

The purpose of this study was to investigate if and how comparative skill levels within marital leisure activities relate to marital satisfaction, and if gender or activity type affects that relationship, and if Flow theory could help explain a potential correlation of these leisure activity contexts. Specifically, this study examined three different comparative skill differences and similarities of couples engaging in leisure activities in three different types of leisure activities as factors in marital leisure satisfaction and ultimately Satisfaction With Married Life (SWML). Their gender and the skill-gender interactions were also included in the analysis. This study followed up on Johnson et al.'s (2006) recommendation for “œmore consideration . . . to be given to the context of the activities themselves and the motivation behind participation” (p. 20). The sample consisted of 657 participating couples regionally reflecting the population and ethnicity across the United States. The Modified Marital Activity Profile (MMAP) was used to measure marital leisure satisfaction. The Satisfaction with Married Life (SWML) scale was included after the MMAP to obtain the overall satisfaction with married life score. The flow experience was measured using items from the Flow State Scale (FSS). A mixed models analysis of co-variance indicated the most common joint leisure activity of both spouses at a similar skill level, and husband is noticeably better than wife, reported significantly higher SWML scores than when the wife is noticeably better than the husband most often. Also, couples who are satisfied with their leisure participation in worse than spouse activities have significantly high SWML scores. Analysis further showed three of the four significant Flow variables had high SWML scores when experiencing Flow, whereas non-athletic activities appeared to be opposite of the other three Flow variables. These relationships were significant even when accounting for the variance explained by demographic variables of gender, age, years married, marriage history, education obtained, ethnicity, and location. Findings support existing family leisure research. This study, however, goes beyond existing research by indicating which comparative skill levels, by gender, and activity types, are positively correlated to SWML. The findings provide implications to couples who are interested in maintaining a healthy marriage, to those considering marriage, scholars, and professionals.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between family downhill skiing patterns and family functioning. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES II), was used to measure family functioning. Questions created by the researcher were used to measure the average number of family ski experiences per year (frequency) and how many years the family has skied together (duration). Satisfaction with family ski experiences was measured using the Satisfaction with Family Skiing Scale. The sample consisted of 110 family units from throughout the United States. The findings from this study found that frequency and duration of family ski experiences were not significant predictors of family functioning. The data did determine that satisfaction with family ski experiences was a significant predictor of family functioning from the youth, parent, and family perspectives.

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.

This study tested Self-Determination Theory as a possible explanatory framework to understand the relationship between total couple leisure satisfaction and marital satisfaction. The three psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness-fundamental components of Self-Determination Theory-were measured through the Fulfillment of Psychological Needs during Couple Leisure (FPNL) scale and were tested as mediators. The analysis of five structural equation models confirmed the relevance of the Self-Determination Theory in explaining the relationship between couple leisure satisfaction and marital satisfaction. Although autonomy and competence were significant mediators, relatedness consistently appeared as the strongest mediator suggesting that the fulfillment of this psychological need is particularly important for relationship functioning and well-being. Implications to couple leisure are discussed.

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.

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The purpose of this study was to compare marital satisfaction among serious leisure participants in partner dancing and their spouses based on their participation patterns in dance (both dancers or only one dancer), with covariates of spousal support, satisfaction with leisure, and leisure-family conflict. This study not only found a significant relationship between marital satisfaction and participation patterns for dancers (participating together β =.2125), but the averages for joint and individual participation patterns fell on either side of the non-distressed versus distressed cut-off score for marital satisfaction, suggesting that participation in a serious leisure activity, like partner dancing, without your spouse was associated with marital distress, and participating with your spouse can help reduce or avoid that stress. Results also suggest that it is role support felt for a specific leisure activity (in this case, dance) that was related to marital satisfaction (β =.4925), but not support felt for general leisure activities or levels of support given. Finally, retiring to bed at the same time was confirmed as an important couple ritual that positively relates to marital satisfaction (β =.1548).

No description available.