Satisfying family leisure supports family closeness, family quality of life
For families of teenagers, opportunities for family time may be few and far between. New research from U of U Health researcher suggests that instead of focusing on creating
more
family time, parents should focus on creating
quality
family time.
According
to the ground-breaking research of
Camilla J. Hodge
, PhD, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and published recently by the Journal of Family Theory & Review,
satisfying
family time is more likely to build stronger families. Dr. Hodge is a graduate of
Brigham Young University
in Provo and
North Carolina State University
in Raleigh. Her academic interests focus on strengthening families.
“In today’s busy world, where parents and teenagers are two incredibly busy groups of people, family time or family leisure, is one of the things that can bring them together," Dr. Hodge said. “Some of the most meaningful experiences families can have are when they engage in activities that will build relationships and bonds that will last across their life span, and leisure and recreation provide those experiences."
According to her study – a meta-analysis of nearly three decades of research – both the amount of family leisure and the satisfaction with family leisure predict higher family quality of life. Satisfying family leisure, however, was the more important factor. Families with satisfying leisure are more likely to report higher levels of emotional closeness and adaptability to changing life circumstances.
Creating satisfying family leisure depends on the goals of the family, according to Dr. Hodge. “Parents can think about the amount of challenge or novelty in an activity,” she said. “Novel or challenging experiences – like trying cross-country skiing for the first time – may help families explore new situations and develop new skills. Familiar activities – like playing a favorite board or card game – can provide families with more opportunities for communication and relationship building since they are less focused on figuring out a new or challenging activity."
Dr. Hodge and her team conducted a meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies, quantitatively synthesizing 25 years of family leisure research. This type of study had never been conducted.
- Camilla J. Hodge, PhD, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, College of Health, (801) 585-7239, [email protected]
- Bill Keshlear, communications specialist, College of Health, (801) 699-7773, [email protected]
