It ain't what you do, it's the way you do it...the meanings which can be attributed to leisure : a review of the literature

Abstract

Occupational science has researched the benefits of occupations across the domains of productivity, self-care and leisure (Reed and Sanderson 1999). Positive psychology has researched why some individuals are resilient and navigate negative life circumstances. Salutogenesis (Bengel et al 1999) focuses on the processes that maintain health, arguing for a shift away from illness prevention to health promotion. Therapeutic Recreation is based on a precise that something was therapeutic if it contributes to physical or psychological health and well-being, and prevents risks, supports coping and transcending negative life events (Caldwell 2005). Facilitating an engagement in occupations should therefore begin as soon as the individual was medically stable, in order to begin to define the sense of self, roles and goals (Jenson and Alien, 1994) and to stave off the negative psychological impacts of acquiring a disability. Yet individuals with disabilities often withdraw from all but the most physically passive of occupations as Farrow & Reid (2004), Parker et al. (1997), Dowsell et al (2000), Morgan et al (2000) and Pound et al (1998) all point out. Due to the perceived freedom that often accompanies leisure, it was sometimes the most important or even only context in which profoundly disabled individuals can be their true selves and feel that occupations are meaningful and authentic. This article highlights the literature which reinforces the message that leisure is a necessary part of an occupationally balanced lifestyle.