Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Measuring Engagement of Spectators of Social Digital Games
Published on: July 3, 2021
Exploring the Association Between Affect and Leisure Activity Engagement in Black Adults
Angie L Sardina1, Christa T Mahlobo2, Alyssa A Gamaldo2
1School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.
Objectives:
This study examined engagement levels across various domains of leisure activities in community-dwelling Black adults (age range = 50-80 years) and variability in daily leisure activity engagement and positive affect (PA; positive emotions or mood) and negative affect (NA; negative emotions or mood). Additionally, we explored whether PA and NA were associated with leisure activity engagement and whether these associations varied by sociodemographics.
Methods:
Fifty adults (78% women; mean education = 11.62 years, standard deviation = 2.4) reported affect and leisure activity engagement over 8 occasions (2-3 weeks).
Results:
Participants averaged 3 leisure activities/day with more engagement in watching television (news), walking, reading, and visiting others. Multilevel models identified significant within-person variation across domains of leisure activity engagement. A significant main effect was observed between daily NA and reduced social activity engagement. A significant interaction between NA and education was further illustrated on those occasions when NA was higher than usual, social and total leisure activity engagement tended to be lower, particularly for adults with ≤10 years of education. A significant interaction between NA and education was observed for entertainment activities. However, results indicated adults with ≥14 years of education, and a mean NA above the sample average, tended to engage in more entertainment activities. Finally, a significant interaction between PA and age was observed indicating adults aged ≥73 had a greater social engagement, particularly when daily PA was heightened.
Discussion:
Results demonstrate within-person changes in the types of leisure engagement among Black adults. Potential factors related to these changes may result from interconnections between affect and demographic factors (age and education).
Related Concept Videos
Relationship Formation
Surveys
Social Loafing
Social Facilitation
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...

