Leisure Activities’ Contribution to Subjective Well-Being: Parenthood Status as a Moderator

Marija Džida; Andreja Brajša-Žganec; Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan; Ana Petak

doi:10.19090/pp.v19i3.2704

Authors

Marija Džida Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4969-2143
Andreja Brajša-Žganec Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0846-6297
Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2662-3156
Ana Petak Faculty of Croatian Studies, Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5443-016X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19090/pp.v19i3.2704

Keywords:

leisure activities, parenting, subjective well-being, child

Abstract

Leisure time activities are significant predictors of subjective well-being (SWB); however, their predictive power may vary depending on life circumstances. The DRAMMA model suggests that leisure activities that fulfil multiple psychological needs have a relatively strong positive impact on SWB. Parenthood has been postulated as one of the highest human needs. However, accomplishing high-level needs while low-level needs remain unsatisfied may not lead to substantial increases in SWB. This study examined whether the relationship between SWB and leisure activities (active socializing and visiting cultural events) is connected to specific parental status. Participants (N = 458, 53.3% female; average age M = 42.16, SD = 10.58) were categorized into four groups based on their parental status and the children’s age: non-parents (n = 186), parents of minor children (n = 119), parents of adult children (n = 114) and parents of both minor and adult children (n = 39). Results showed no differences in SWB between non-parents and different groups of parents. Non-parents spend more time in leisure activities than parents. Moderation analyses revealed that frequency of engaging in active socializing is positively associated with SWB across all groups except parents of minor children. Regarding visiting cultural events and SWB, there was no significant moderation by group status. Additional analyses and separate regression analysis with control variables yielded similar findings. The children’s age, parental status, and the type of leisure activities appear to play an important role in shaping the relationship between leisure and SWB.

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