The purpose of the study was to examine the leisure patterns of nonresident fathers while spending time with their child(ren), and to examine leisure constraints, leisure facilitators and nonresident fathers' satisfaction with family leisure activities. Four instruments were used to collect the data. Family leisure involvement was measured using the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP), leisure constraints were measured using the Nonresident Father Leisure Constraint Scale (NFLCS), leisure facilitators were measured using the Nonresident Fathers' Leisure Facilitator Scale (NFLFS), and family leisure satisfaction was measured using the Family Leisure Satisfaction Scale (FLSS). The sample was nonresident fathers (n=129) from 36 states in the U.S. The data supported leisure constraints as a significant predictor of nonresident fathers' satisfaction with family leisure involvement, and their family leisure patterns. The data did not support, however, leisure facilitators as contributing to fathers' satisfaction with family leisure involvement or leisure patterns.

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 (a) examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and aspects of family functioning (adaptability and cohesion) among Samoan families residing on American Samoa, and (b) to compare the Samoan data to a broad sample of American families to provide a cross-cultural comparison. The sample consisted of 340 adult participants. The Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. FACES II was used to measure family functioning. Regression analyses conducted on the 340 individuals indicated a positive relationship between core family leisure involvement and family cohesion, adaptability, and overall family functioning. The analyses also indicated a positive relationship between balance family leisure involvement and family adaptability, but no relationship between balance family leisure and family cohesion and overall family functioning. In addition, results indicated that there was no significant difference between American and Samoan families in their family functioning, but their family leisure involvement patterns differed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure that includes physical activity and family functioning among families that have at least one child (17 years old or younger) at home. The sample consisted of 519 families. Data were analyzed from a parental perspective. Family leisure that includes physical activity was determined by using an adapted version of the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP). Family functioning was determined using FACES II. Univariate analyses indicated significant positive correlations between the amount of the intensity present during physical activity participation and family functioning, cohesion, and adaptability. Multivariable analyses indicated a significant positive relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning. Both core and balance family leisure patterns were predictors of family functioning; however, core family leisure patterns were the strongest family leisure predictor of family functioning. Intensity of physical activity during family leisure, as indicated by the results of the multivariable analyses, was not significant in explaining the variance of the dependent variable: family functioning. For the sample of this study, home-based recreational activities were preferred over all other types of family recreation even if families were living by public parks or recreational centers. Implications for recreational practitioners, other interesting findings, and recommendations for further research are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation and aspects of family functioning (cohesion and adaptability) and family leisure involvement from Mexican-American parent, youth, and family perspectives. Acculturation of parents, youth, and families was measured using the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (BAS). Family leisure involvement was measured using the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP). Aspects of family functioning were measured using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES II). Sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, generation, family size, income, and education were also used to help predict levels of acculturation for family perspectives. The sample was obtained from communities in Texas and Utah and consisted of 74 Mexican-American families, including a parent and child from each family. Differences were found in measures of family leisure involvement and family functioning between Mexican-Americans and normative samples of Anglo-Americans. Findings suggest that family leisure involvement, aspects of family functioning, and sociodemographic variables helped to predict parent, youth, and family perspectives of acculturation. The independent and sociodemographic variables also helped to discriminate levels of acculturation for parents, youth, and families. Recommendations are given for commercial and community recreation programs targeting Mexican-American families, in addition to implication for further research.

Darbe nagrinėjama aktuali sritis – šeimos kaip pagrindinės visuomenės ląstelės ir tautos variklio tobulinimas, jos gyvavimo ir gyvenimo kokybės esmė. To pagrindas yra turiningas, kūrybingas bei atpalaiduojantis laisvalaikis. Retai kada susimąstoma, kad ne tik vaikams, jaunimui reikia kokybiško laisvalaikio, prasmingo bendravimo ir paprasčiausio laimės pilnatvės jausmo. Norint visa tai pasiekti, reikia daug, nuosekliai ir planingai dirbti su savimi ir šalia esančiais žmonėmis. Kokybiškas laikas kartu – tai brendimas, tobulėjimas santykyje su savimi ir kitais. Įvairūs žmogaus įgūdžiai geriausiai susiformuoja tada, kai su malonumu tyrinėjama ir atrandama kas nors naujo, panaudojamos naujos idėjos ar daiktai. Kadangi šeima vaikams yra saugi aplinka, todėl tėvai, skirdami laiką žaisti su vaikais ar pramogauti, gali stiprinti tarpusavio santykius, emocinius santykius, savo ir vaikų asmenybes. Per bendrą veiklą šeima tampa maža bendruomene, siekiančia bendro tikslo. Sutuoktiniai, planuodami veiklą, turi atsižvelgti į kelis esminius kriterijus: savo ir vaikų amžių, gyvenamąją vietą, sveikatą, ekonominę situaciją, o svarbiausia – į savo šeimos narių poreikius. Šeimos laisvalaikio veikla turi įjungti visus šeimos narius ir taip suteikti šeimos gyvenimo pasitenkinimą. Suaugusiųjų pareiga vaiką mokyti ir pratinti kultūringai ir produktyviai leisti laisvalaikį, kuris duotų materialinės ir dvasinės naudos pačiam vaikui, artimiesiems ir visuomenei. Tai pavyksta tuomet, kai pačių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This paper is focused on a significant topic, namely, organization of a purposeful, creative and relaxing leisure time of a family. This topic is considered to be of high importance as it is closely related to the development and quality of life of a family, which in turn is often called to be the first cell and the leading force of society. Unfortunately, few people understand that children and youth are not the only ones in need of quality leisure time, meaningful communication and simply the feeling of happiness. In order to achieve this, one has to put a lot of time and efforts and to work consistently together with other family members. Quality leisure time spent together is a way of personal growth and development of relationships with others. As scholars has proved, various skills can best be formed when a person is involved in a pleasurable activity of exploring and discovering something new, using new ideas and things. Therefore, as children usually regard their family as a safe environment, it is important that parents would spend time playing or having fun with their children because it helps to strengthen their relationship, emotional ties and personalities of both adults and children. Joint activities help the family to become a small community united by a common goal. When a married couple plans leisure time activities for their family, they have to regard several crucial criteria: age of themselves and their children, place of residence, health condition... [to full text]

The purpose of this study was to examine how attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control influence adolescents' intent to participate in active family leisure and furthermore to explore the nature of the relationship between active family leisure and body mass index (BMI) among adolescents. Adolescents (N = 472) completed an online questionnaire assessing the theory of planned behavior (TPB) variables, active family leisure, individual active leisure, and BMI. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Tests of direct paths of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control to intent indicated these variables were significant predictors of intent to participate in active family leisure. The combination of attitude and subjective norm was the greatest predictor of intent. The TPB was extended to examine the relationship between active family leisure and BMI. There was not a significant relationship; however the TPB did accurately model the behavior of active family leisure. Findings suggest the influence of friends and family is a strong predictor for active family leisure. This highlights the important role families and friends can play to encourage adolescents' participation in active family leisure.

The purpose of this study was to further examine the relationship between family leisure variables and the dependent variables of family functioning and satisfaction with family life among a broad, national sample of Canadian families using the Core and Balance framework. 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. Because the data were nested in families, this study accounted for family-level variance by incorporating mixed modeling. The sample consisted of 943 families across Canada including one parent and one child between the ages of 11 and 16 (n = 1886). Findings added to previous Canadian family leisure studies by reporting empirical relationships between family leisure variables and outcome variables and doing so from a broad national sample. Findings were also consistent with trends in other countries reporting satisfaction with core family leisure involvement as the single strongest predictor of both family functioning and satisfaction with family life among Canadian families. Furthermore, while core family leisure satisfaction was the driving force in the explanation of variance in family satisfaction, findings suggest there must be participation in both core and balance family leisure. Additional implications for Canadian families, scholars, professionals, and policy makers are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to further clarify the relationship between couple leisure patterns and marital satisfaction by examining the contribution of joint couple leisure involvement, leisure time, and leisure satisfaction to couples' satisfaction with married life. The sample consisted of 48 married couples (N = 96). The Marital Activity Profile (MAP), a modified version of the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to determine couple leisure involvement in core and balance leisure activities and leisure satisfaction. The Satisfaction With Married Life (SWML), a modified version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) was used to measure marital satisfaction. Blocked multiple regression analyses indicated a positive relationship between satisfaction with couple leisure and marital satisfaction, specifically satisfaction with core leisure activity patterns. Implications and recommendations for further research are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of family leisure involvement to the family functioning of single-parent families among a large national representative sample. Two samples were gathered. The single-parent sample consisted of 384 families (384 parents and 384 youth). The dual-parent sample consisted of 495 families (495 parents and 495 youth). Data were analyzed from the parent, youth, and family perspective using two instruments. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES II) was used to measure family functioning and the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. Blocked multiple regression analysis indicated a positive relationship between family leisure variables and family functioning variables among single-parent families. Family cohesion and family adaptability were affected by both core and balance activities, while family adaptability was affected slightly more by core activities than balance activities, from all three perspectives. Results also indicated that family functioning was very similar to dual-parent families while family leisure involvement among single-parent families was less. Implications for practitioners and recommendations for further research are discussed.