The provision of leisure and recreation has the potential to vitalise and change lower socio-economic communities. The benefits of leisure and recreation participation are, however, absent in the lower socio-economic communities of Danville and Elandspoort, as recreation and leisure activities are not seen as necessary needs that should be provided for the residents. Lower socio-economic status communities tend to suffer as a consequence of the often subliminal assumptions and reactions of well-meaning people. A major barrier to the implementation of recreation programmes in lower socio-economic communities remains the fact that these programmes often fall into the ambit of non-profit organisations, whose first priority does not usually include recreation provision. Second-order cybernetics theory is introduced in this study as a possible alternative approach to recreation provision in lower socio-economic communities. Engaging in a second-order cybernetics approach, the recreation provider can look beyond the feedback patterns utilised by a community to maintain its status quo, and work with and within a community to establish a sustainable recreation programme. Through the use of a second-order cybernetics approach, the residents of a lower socio-economic status community will no longer be regarded as the ‘observed’ participants of a programme that has been designed by an ‘observer’ and ‘expert’ recreation provider, but will, rather, participate in and share the responsibility of designing their own recreation programme for the community. The following three hypotheses were formulated:<ul> <li>Recreation provision in lower socio-economic communities will benefit from a second-order cybernetics approach.</li> <li>Sustainable recreation provision in a lower socio-economic status community will enhance the quality of life of the residents engaging in the activities available within the community.</li> <li>Second-order recreation provision in a lower socio-economic community will create an environment that is likely to be beneficial for social change</li></ul> In order for the hypotheses to be tested, the aims of the study were:<ul> <li>To examine the influence of recreation and leisure opportunities as a means of improving and maintaining social cohesion and quality of life in lower socio-economic status communities.</li> <li>To identify the barriers to providing and maintaining a comprehensive, sustainable recreation programme in a lower socio-economic community.</li> <li>To understand the way in which the residents of Danville and Elandspoort view recreation and recreation provision within the communities.</li> <li>To identify the similarities and differences between the current approach to recreational provision in the lower socio-economic communities of Danville and Elandspoort and a second-order cybernetics approach.</li></ul> Grounded in a qualitative framework, the research methods for the study included a literature review, the use of focus groups and vignette techniques, and observation. The sampling for the focus groups was done by means of convenience sampling. In total, six focus groups, which were segmented by place of attendance, participated. A total of 60 participants were used in the study, excluding the residents to whom the researcher spoke throughout the course of the study, and as part of the observation. It was found that a positive relationship exists between lower socio-economic status and inappropriate recreation programming. Lower socio-economic status communities are excluded from participation by means of several barriers, including factors such as cost of participation, registration fees and transport. An important barrier to recreation participation in the lower socio-economic status communities of Danville and Elandspoort that was identified in the study was the absence of recreation facilities in the communities. Residents confirmed that television and the consumption of alcohol were the main recreation activities in the communities. The responses provided in focus group discussions confirmed the fact that residents felt excluded from society, and that they also assumed that leisure and recreation activities were privileges that were reserved only for the middle and higher socio-economic status communities. Residents within the communities did not only feel excluded from society, but also felt powerless to do something about the situation. In response to the question concerning their perception of quality of life within the communities, participants demonstrated that they felt that recreation programming would be a positive contribution to the communities’ perception of a better quality of life. A second-order approach to recreation provision in the communities of Danville and Elandspoort will assist in facilitating a process of social change within the communities by including residents in the planning and provision of a community recreation programme. In order to utilize the full potential of leisure and recreation provision in the lower socio-economic communities of Danville and Elandspoort, the following aspects are suggested for the undertaking of any further research: <ul> <li>The potential of leisure and recreation provision to facilitate social change in a lower socio-economic community.</li> <li>Real barriers versus perceived barriers to recreation provision and recreation participation in a lower socio-economic community.</li> <li>Second-order cybernetics recreation provision as a community development approach: implementation and evaluation of change and sustainability within the community.</li></ul> AFRIKAANS : Die voorsiening van rekreasie in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskap het die inherente vermoë om ‘n positiewe verandering in die gemeenskap te bring. Die voordeel van rekreasie kan egter nie in die lae sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskappe van Danville en Elandspoort verwesenlik en bydrae tot ‘n hoër persepsie van lewenskwaliteit nie, aangesien rekreasievoorsiening dikwels nie gesien word as ‘n nodige behoefte in die versorging van lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe nie. Die voorsiening van behoeftes in lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe val dikwels onder die vaandel van geloofsgroepe (kerke), nie-winsgewende organisasies en vrywilligers wat, alhoewel met goeie bedoelings, dikwels onbewustelik as ‘kenners’ namens die gemeenskap besluite neem. ‘n Tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering tot rekreasievoorsiening word in die studie voorgestel as ‘n moontlike alternatief tot die huidige benadering in lae sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskappe. Die gebruik van ‘n tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering gee die rekreasievoorsiener die geleentheid om verby die gemeenskap se terugvoer patrone te kyk, en saam met die gemeenskap ‘n volhoubare rekreasieprogram te ontwikkel. ‘n Tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering tot rekreasie voorsiening verander die posisie van die gemeenskapslede van ‘geobserveerde’ deelnemers aan ‘n rekreasie program ontwerp deur ‘n ‘observerende’ rekreasiekundige, na ‘n deelnemende rol in die ontwerp van die rekreasie program vir die gemeenskap. Die volgende drie hipoteses is geformuleer in antwoord op die navorsings probleem: <ul> <li>Rekreasie voorsiening in lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe sal positief beïnvloed word deur ‘n tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering.</li> <li>‘n Volhoubare rekreasie program en geleenthede vir rekreasie deelname in die lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe van Danville en Elandspoort sal die gemeenskap se persepsie van lewenskwaliteit verhoog.</li> <li>‘n Rekreasie program met ‘n tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskap sal bydrae tot ‘n omgewing ontvanklik vir sosiale verandering.</li> </ul> Die doelwitte gestel vanuit die hipoteses is as volg: <ul> <li>Om die invloed van rekreasie en vryetyds-besteding geleenthede op die sosiale samehorigheid en handhawing van ‘n positiewe persepsie van lewenskwaliteit in die lae sosio-ekonomies gemeenskappe van Danville en Elandspoort te ondersoek;</li> <li>Om die struikelblokke tot die aanbied van ‘n volhoubare rekreasieprogram in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomies gemeenskap te identifiseer;</li> <li>Om te verstaan hoe die inwoners van die lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe van Danville en Elandspoort rekreasie voorsiening in die gemeenskap sien en ervaar;</li> <li>Om ooreenkomste asook verskille tussen die huidige benadering tot rekreasie voorsiening in die gemeenskap, en ‘n moontlike tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering te identifiseer.</li> </ul> Navorsing in die studie is kwalitatief en navorsingsmetodes sluit in ‘n literatuurstudie, fokus groepe, vignette tegniek, informele onderhoud en observasie. Selektering vir die fokus groepe is gedoen deur gerieflikheids-selektering, met indeling volgens die plek van bywoning: twee sopkombuise in Elandspoort, ‘n sopkombuis in Danville en ‘n ma-en-baba sentrum in Danville. ‘n Totaal van sestig deelnemers is gebruik in die studie, uitgesluit die gemeenskapslede met wie die navorser gepraat het deur die verloop van die studie. ‘n Positiewe verhouding is gevind tussen lae sosio-ekonomies status en swak rekreasie voorsiening. Lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe word uitgesluit deur die bestaan van verskeie struikelblokke tot deelname aan rekreasie, insluitend koste van deelname, registrasiefooie en vervoerprobleme. ‘n Belangrike struikelblok tot deelname aan rekreasie geidentifiseer in die studie is die afwesigheid van rekreasie fasiliteite in die gemeenskap. Inwoners het bevestig dat televisie en verbruik van alkohol die belangrikste vorm van rekreasie in die gemeenskap is. Reaksies van deelnemers aan die fokusgroepe het bevestig dat inwoners uitgesluit voel van die samelewing, en dat die aanname binne die gemeenskap bestaan dat rekreasie en vryetyd-aktiwiteite die voorreg van middel en hoër sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskappe is. In reaksie op inwoners se lewenskwaliteit is daar deur die deelnemers aangedui dat rekreasie aktiwiteite in die gemeenskap sal bydrae tot ‘n positiewe persepsie van lewenskwaliteit. Om die volle potensiaal van rekreasie voorsiening in die gemeenskap van Danville en Elandspoort tot reg te laat kom, word die volgende aanbevelings gemaak ten opsigte van verdere navorsing: <ul> <li>Die potensiaal van rekreasie en vryetydsbestuur in die fasiliteitering van sosiale verandering in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskap.</li> <li>Werklike struikelblokke teenoor die ‘persepsie’ van struikelblokke in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskap.</li> <li>Implementering van ‘n tweede-orde kubernetiese rekreasie program in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskap.</li> </ul> / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

Stumbo and Peterson (2004:9) argue that the participation in meaningful leisure activities may lead to the improvement of elderly people’s health, well-being and quality of life. Changes which are associated with old age, such as the increase in adverse health conditions; however has a significant impact on leisure participation of the elderly (Austin et al., 2006:49). For the purpose of this study, the following questions need to be answered: a) Are physical, social, spiritual and cognitive leisure activities part of the leisure profile of persons sixty years and older? b) Do structural, interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints play a role in limiting the leisure participation of persons sixty years and older? c) Does a relationship exist between participation in physical, social, spiritual and cognitive leisure activities and perceived well-being of people sixty years and older? d) Can a leisure activity paradigm be compiled to indicate the leisure participation of persons sixty years and older? To answer these questions, this study focused on using a phenomenological research design to enquire about the meaning of the leisure phenomenon in elderly people’s lives (Fouché, 2005:270). This study was developed in accordance with the mixed methodological approach referred to by De Vos (2005b:361) as a combination of quantitative and qualitative research used in a single study. For the purpose of this study, one hundred and ten elderly people (men and women), sixty years and older and members of the Potchefstroom Service Centre for the Aged, participated. An availability sample was used to identify the participants who completed the questionnaire and participated in the focus group interview. Seventy two participants (60 females and 12 males) completed the questionnaire, whereby eight participants (5 females and 3 males) participated in the focus group interview. According to the results, respondents 60-64 years old indicated that they participate more in social, creative and cultural, and general leisure activities. Although 60% of these respondents (60-64 years) experience low levels of health, 80% still participate in physical leisure activities. The results suggested that these respondents (60-64 years) also participate less in travelling and outdoor leisure activities than respondents 65-74 years old and 75 years and older. Regarding respondents 65-74 years old, the results indicated higher levels of participation in social leisure activities, followed by general leisure activities. These respondents (65-74 years) participate more in travelling and outdoor leisure activities than the other age groups (60-64; 75 and older). Compared to the respondents 60-64 years, the leisure participation in creative and cultural and physical activities of respondents 65-74 years is significantly lower, even if the results showed they have a healthier health profile than respondents 60-64 years. The results showed that respondents 75 years and older participate more in general leisure activities, followed by social leisure activities and creative and cultural leisure activities. In comparison with respondents 60-64 years, respondents 75 years and older participate more in travelling and outdoor leisure activities. Although respondents 75 years and older, according to the results, have a healthier health profile than respondents 60-64 years and 65-74 years, participation in physical leisure activities was still very low. Regarding the relation between the leisure profile and the different types of living arrangements, it showed that respondents living in retirement villages participate more in social, general and physical leisure activities whereas respondents living in their own homes, participate more in general, social and creative and cultural leisure activities. However, respondents living with their children or family, or in a communal home, participate more in social leisure activities. In terms of the importance of leisure participation in elderly people’s life, the results indicated that 60% respondents 60-64 years, acknowledge leisure participation as very important in their lives, whereas 6% respondents 65-74 years and 75 years and older (21%), indicated leisure participation as not important. According to the respondents’ health profile, in relation to living arrangements and gender, women respondents living in retirement villages experience lower health levels than those living with their children or family, or in communal homes as well as male respondents. The results indicated that most of the respondents who experience average to low health levels, participate in social leisure activities whereas those who participate in outdoor leisure activities experience average health levels. In terms of happiness, well-being and quality of life, the male respondents living in retirement villages experience higher levels of happiness, well-being and quality of life compared to those living with children or family, or in communal homes. Women respondents living in their own homes or with their children or family, or in communal homes experience the highest levels of happiness, well-being and quality of life. This study also suggests that elderly people’s leisure participation can be programmed and planned by using a leisure activity pyramid. This leisure activity pyramid place social activities at the foundation of the leisure program, from where general, creative and cultural, physical, outdoor and travelling leisure activities can develop. The results showed, elderly people have a need to experience leisure benefits; hence the leisure benefits respondents 65-74 years old experience, includes interaction with others, whereas respondents 75 years and older indicated that they experience personal growth as a leisure benefit. Respondents (male and female) 65-74 years old indicated that meeting other people was the biggest leisure benefit, whereas respondents 60-64 years indicated that they participate in leisure activities to experience physical challenges while respondents 75 years and older participate in leisure activities to experience relaxation. In terms of the constraints which can limit participants’ leisure participation or exclude them from it, the respondents experience financial shortages as the most important constraint. The results showed that constraints are experienced differently between gender and age groups. Hence, the male respondents 65-74 years old and female respondents 75 years and older, indicated a shortage of time as the most important constraint, while male respondents 75 years and older, as well as female respondents between 60 and 74 years, indicated financial shortages as the most important constraint. According to the results, it seemed that respondents 85 years and older experience time and security, economic and structural, personal and programming as constraints. Respondents living in a flat on the same premises as children or family, experience time and security as constraints in contrast to those living with children or family, who experience economic and personal constraints. According to this study it is clear that old age and the provision of leisure services to older people, is a very complex issue. In the light of this information it is necessary for tertiary institutions to provide specialized training for recreation students, in the field of providing leisure services to older people, to meet the complex leisure needs of the elderly. / Thesis (PhD (Recreation Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Stumbo and Peterson (2004:9) argue that the participation in meaningful leisure activities may lead to the improvement of elderly people’s health, well-being and quality of life. Changes which are associated with old age, such as the increase in adverse health conditions; however has a significant impact on leisure participation of the elderly (Austin et al., 2006:49). For the purpose of this study, the following questions need to be answered: a) Are physical, social, spiritual and cognitive leisure activities part of the leisure profile of persons sixty years and older? b) Do structural, interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints play a role in limiting the leisure participation of persons sixty years and older? c) Does a relationship exist between participation in physical, social, spiritual and cognitive leisure activities and perceived well-being of people sixty years and older? d) Can a leisure activity paradigm be compiled to indicate the leisure participation of persons sixty years and older? To answer these questions, this study focused on using a phenomenological research design to enquire about the meaning of the leisure phenomenon in elderly people’s lives (Fouché, 2005:270). This study was developed in accordance with the mixed methodological approach referred to by De Vos (2005b:361) as a combination of quantitative and qualitative research used in a single study. For the purpose of this study, one hundred and ten elderly people (men and women), sixty years and older and members of the Potchefstroom Service Centre for the Aged, participated. An availability sample was used to identify the participants who completed the questionnaire and participated in the focus group interview. Seventy two participants (60 females and 12 males) completed the questionnaire, whereby eight participants (5 females and 3 males) participated in the focus group interview. According to the results, respondents 60-64 years old indicated that they participate more in social, creative and cultural, and general leisure activities. Although 60% of these respondents (60-64 years) experience low levels of health, 80% still participate in physical leisure activities. The results suggested that these respondents (60-64 years) also participate less in travelling and outdoor leisure activities than respondents 65-74 years old and 75 years and older. Regarding respondents 65-74 years old, the results indicated higher levels of participation in social leisure activities, followed by general leisure activities. These respondents (65-74 years) participate more in travelling and outdoor leisure activities than the other age groups (60-64; 75 and older). Compared to the respondents 60-64 years, the leisure participation in creative and cultural and physical activities of respondents 65-74 years is significantly lower, even if the results showed they have a healthier health profile than respondents 60-64 years. The results showed that respondents 75 years and older participate more in general leisure activities, followed by social leisure activities and creative and cultural leisure activities. In comparison with respondents 60-64 years, respondents 75 years and older participate more in travelling and outdoor leisure activities. Although respondents 75 years and older, according to the results, have a healthier health profile than respondents 60-64 years and 65-74 years, participation in physical leisure activities was still very low. Regarding the relation between the leisure profile and the different types of living arrangements, it showed that respondents living in retirement villages participate more in social, general and physical leisure activities whereas respondents living in their own homes, participate more in general, social and creative and cultural leisure activities. However, respondents living with their children or family, or in a communal home, participate more in social leisure activities. In terms of the importance of leisure participation in elderly people’s life, the results indicated that 60% respondents 60-64 years, acknowledge leisure participation as very important in their lives, whereas 6% respondents 65-74 years and 75 years and older (21%), indicated leisure participation as not important. According to the respondents’ health profile, in relation to living arrangements and gender, women respondents living in retirement villages experience lower health levels than those living with their children or family, or in communal homes as well as male respondents. The results indicated that most of the respondents who experience average to low health levels, participate in social leisure activities whereas those who participate in outdoor leisure activities experience average health levels. In terms of happiness, well-being and quality of life, the male respondents living in retirement villages experience higher levels of happiness, well-being and quality of life compared to those living with children or family, or in communal homes. Women respondents living in their own homes or with their children or family, or in communal homes experience the highest levels of happiness, well-being and quality of life. This study also suggests that elderly people’s leisure participation can be programmed and planned by using a leisure activity pyramid. This leisure activity pyramid place social activities at the foundation of the leisure program, from where general, creative and cultural, physical, outdoor and travelling leisure activities can develop. The results showed, elderly people have a need to experience leisure benefits; hence the leisure benefits respondents 65-74 years old experience, includes interaction with others, whereas respondents 75 years and older indicated that they experience personal growth as a leisure benefit. Respondents (male and female) 65-74 years old indicated that meeting other people was the biggest leisure benefit, whereas respondents 60-64 years indicated that they participate in leisure activities to experience physical challenges while respondents 75 years and older participate in leisure activities to experience relaxation. In terms of the constraints which can limit participants’ leisure participation or exclude them from it, the respondents experience financial shortages as the most important constraint. The results showed that constraints are experienced differently between gender and age groups. Hence, the male respondents 65-74 years old and female respondents 75 years and older, indicated a shortage of time as the most important constraint, while male respondents 75 years and older, as well as female respondents between 60 and 74 years, indicated financial shortages as the most important constraint. According to the results, it seemed that respondents 85 years and older experience time and security, economic and structural, personal and programming as constraints. Respondents living in a flat on the same premises as children or family, experience time and security as constraints in contrast to those living with children or family, who experience economic and personal constraints. According to this study it is clear that old age and the provision of leisure services to older people, is a very complex issue. In the light of this information it is necessary for tertiary institutions to provide specialized training for recreation students, in the field of providing leisure services to older people, to meet the complex leisure needs of the elderly. / Thesis (PhD (Recreation Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013