Leisure participation and the life, health, leisure and retirement satisfaction of retirees: a case study of Port Macquarie, Australia

Lee Maree Krahe

doi:10.1515/ijdhd.2011.022

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Leisure participation and the life, health, leisure and retirement satisfaction of retirees: a case study of Port Macquarie, Australia

Lee Maree Krahe

Published/Copyright: May 10, 2011

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International Journal on Disability and Human Development

From the journal Volume 10 Issue 2

Abstract

More adults than ever before are transitioning into the retirement stage of the life. For many, retirement is a period of increased leisure participation. The objective of the study was to identify the impact of leisure participation on the retirement experience. Subjects were 116 retirees located in the New South Wales coastal town of Port Macquarie. A 7- day time-use diary and a four page questionnaire were administered. Time-use was recorded in 15 min bundles so as to determine retirees’ leisure repertoires and leisure participation levels (specifically active, passive, and social leisure). Retirees’ life, leisure, health, and retirement satisfaction were also scored and their socio-demographic characteristics identified. Analysis of the data revealed that 60% of all time given over to leisure participation was spent undertaking passive leisure activities, followed by active leisure activities (25%), and then social leisure activities (15%). Retired males participated significantly more in passive leisure activities, while retired females participated significantly more in social leisure activities. Leisure participation was not found to significantly influence life satisfaction and retirement satisfaction, although certain leisure activities were found to significantly influence leisure satisfaction and health satisfaction. Retirement satisfaction scores also significantly influenced total weekly passive leisure participation. Further, certain measures of satisfaction were found to significantly influence others: life satisfaction significantly influenced health, retirement, and leisure satisfaction scores; retirement satisfaction significantly influenced leisure, life, and health satisfaction scores; and health satisfaction scores significantly influenced life and retirement satisfaction. Female retirees scored higher health satisfaction scores than male retirees.

Keywords: health satisfaction; leisure participation; leisure satisfaction; life satisfaction; retirees; retirement satisfaction

Corresponding author: Lee Maree Krahe, PhD, Rural Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, PO Box 5596, Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444 Australia

Received: 2010-10-2

Accepted: 2010-12-4

Published Online: 2011-05-10

Published in Print: 2011-05-01

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ijdhd.2011.022

Keywords for this article

health satisfaction; leisure participation; leisure satisfaction; life satisfaction; retirees; retirement satisfaction