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Leisure Guilt
Hyunjin J Koo1, Paul K Piff2, Friedrich M Götz3
1California State University, San Marcos, USA.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|July 25, 2026
Summary
Feeling guilty about leisure time hinders well-being. Leisure guilt, a new psychological construct, negatively impacts leisure experiences and overall life satisfaction.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Well-being Studies
- Leisure Science
Background:
- Leisure is crucial for well-being, but psychological barriers can impede its benefits.
- Leisure guilt, the unease from non-productive leisure, is a novel construct explored in this research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the Leisure Guilt Proneness (LGP) Scale.
- To investigate the prevalence and correlates of leisure guilt in daily life.
- To examine the relationship between leisure guilt and psychological benefits derived from leisure.
Main Methods:
- Development and validation of the Leisure Guilt Proneness (LGP) Scale across three studies.
- Experience sampling method used in Study 2 to capture real-time leisure guilt.
- Analysis of demographic factors (gender, socioeconomic status, age) and leisure type (solitary vs. social).
Main Results:
- The LGP Scale demonstrated internal consistency, temporal stability, and predictive validity for poorer leisure experiences and well-being.
- Leisure guilt occurred in 14% of leisure occasions, more frequently among women, lower socioeconomic status individuals, and younger adults.
- Solitary leisure and higher LGP scores were associated with increased leisure guilt and reduced psychological benefits.
Conclusions:
- Leisure guilt is a significant psychological construct that can undermine the positive effects of leisure.
- The LGP Scale provides a reliable measure for assessing individual differences in leisure guilt.
- Interventions targeting leisure guilt may enhance well-being by improving leisure experiences.
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