Removing attitudinal barriers to leisure behavior and satisfaction: a field experiment among the institutionalized...

Many older adults seem unable to take advantage of the leisure opportunities that already exist in their community and/or institutional homes. The failure to pursue leisure activities and avocational interests, makes them a group with the potential for leisure counseling intervention. Traditionally, increased leisure participation by the older adult has been promoted with programs that teach skills, and which offer activities to fill free time. However, the danger of this approach alone is that most of the activities engaged in by the elderly may fall into the category of busy work, not recreation. The lack of leisure participation is as likely dependent upon psychological barriers, such as, attitudes, as it is on the lack of recreation skills. For the present study, a counseling program, aimed at attitudinal barriers, was developed and evaluated. A field experiment conducted in a total-care senior citizen's facility found that the leisure counseling program was more effective than a traditional leisure activities program of the same duration in increasing positive attitudes toward leisure. Those involved in the leisure counseling program also reported more satisfaction with their recreational involvements. However, leisure participation increased only for those residents involved in both the leisure counseling and activity programs.