Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1975. / Bibliography: leaves 175-181. / x, 181 leaves map

This research examined several independent variables and their prediction of perceived freedom in leisure (PFL). Four instruments were utilized to collect data from research subjects regarding the independent variables of shyness, extroversion, gender and activity preference style and the dependent variable, PFL. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients were calculated for each scale employed in the research. Reliabilities for the scales within this research were as follows: Stanford Shyness Survey (.78), Adult Short Form of the Leisure Diagnostic Battery (.92), three scales from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Extroversion (.85), Neuroticism (.79), and LIE (.75), and the Activity Preference Style Scales - Active (.45), Group (.53), and Risk (.67). Due to the low alpha reliabilities of two of the Activity Preference Style Scales, Active and Group, factor analysis was performed in an attempt to construct new sub-scales with higher alpha reliabilities. This resulted in some of the new sub-scales, as well as the original Active and Group scales being used in the data analysis. The sample was comprised of 325 undergraduate students enrolled in a required history or English class. The age of the sample ranged from 17 to 50 with a mean age of 20.4. Questionnaires were given out during class time and students were instructed to complete them at home and return them to their instructor. Respondents were categorized into six non-independent groups: all subjects, not shy subjects, shy subjects, and three shyness sub-groups — shy now and in the past, shy now but not in the past and shy in the past. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was employed with four different sets of Activity Preference Style scales and sub-scales in the prediction of PFL for the six subject groupings. Regardless of a subject's level of shyness, extroversion, and in several other cases, one of the activity style variables were the only significant predictors of PFL. The best predictor of PFL for not shy subjects was risk.

This study examines the relationship between work and leisure satisfaction using Shepard's Status Recognition Model. The sample was made up of two groups of health services personnel each of which contained three work levels or groups: a support group, a clinical group, and an administrative group. Assuming that status recognition would be different for the low status jobs (support) and high status jobs (clinical and administrative), it was hypothesized that the high status group would display low work related alienation and thus show a positive correlation between work and leisure satisfaction (evidence of a spillover mechanism). The lower status group was hypothesized to display high work related alienation and thus show a satisfaction (evidence of a compensatory mechanism). Analysis of 85 questionnaires confirmed the primary hypothesis that high status workers would display a spillover mechanism between work and leisure attitudes. The low negative correlation between overall work and leisure satisfaction in the support group was indicative of a compensatory mechanism, particularly when controlled for whether individuals were leaders or participants in their leisure roles. Results were discussed in the context of work centrality, and a modified version of Shepard's Status Recognition Model was proposed.

The stages of motivational readiness to change leisure time physical activity behavior of students from two Mississippi community colleges were investigated. The Stages of Motivational Readiness to Change (SMRC) model postulates that behavior change is a longitudinal process described by five stages that assess an individual?s motivational level relative to changing leisure time physical activity behavior. That is, individuals are positioned in one of the following five stages at any given point in time: (a) precontemplation (i.e., no intention to change); (b) contemplation (i.e., considering a change); (c) preparation (i.e., small changes already made toward an ultimate behavior goal); (d) action (i.e., a desired behavior has been adopted); or (e) maintenance (i.e., working to prevent a relapse). The Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire (PASQ) was used for data collection in this study. The results revealed 35% were completely sedentary (precontemplation, contemplation) and 64.9% were participating in occasional or regular leisure time physical activity (preparation, action, maintenance). To examine the dependency of stage position upon ethnicity, gender, age, and income, the chi-square test of independence was performed. Findings indicated stage position to be independent of ethnicity, but dependent upon the remaining independent variables. This study?s conclusions indicated that stage-matched interventions are necessary to increase and maintain individual leisure time physical activity behavior.