title: Contributions of leisure participation in predicting stress coping and health among police and emergency response services workers.
abstract: This study examined the extent to which frequency and enjoyment measures of leisure participation predict adaptational outcomes, over and above the contributions of general coping. Police and emergency response services workers (N = 132) participated in the study, and a repeated measures design was used. The study provides evidence that the type of leisure activity matters in predicting immediate adaptational outcomes (coping effectiveness, coping satisfaction and stress reduction) and mental and physical health. Relaxing leisure was found to be the strongest positive predictor of coping with stress, while social leisure and cultural leisure significantly predicted greater mental or physical health.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies, Health , Leisure & Human Performance Research Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. iwasakiy@ms.umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Roger C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mannell
authors.forename: Bryan J A
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Smale
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butcher
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires