Leisure in Single and Dual Parent Families

This study is an exploratory examination of the similarities and differences in family leisure participation between single parent and dual parent families. Surveys were distributed in three rural communities using three distribution methods. Surveys were distributed to 4th, 5 th and 6th grade classes and returned by mail. Surveys were hand delivered and picked up through two separate summer playground programs, and surveys were sent and returned by mail through two separate YMCA's. The study sample included 23 single parent families and 38 dual parent families delimited to female respondents who's oldest child living in the household was between 8 and 12 years of age, and families that had not gone through a major transition within a two year time period prior to the study. Family leisure participation was measured across five variables within 16 leisure activity categories characterized as either core or balance leisure activities. Other variables measured included constraints to participating in any of the leisure activity categories, overall satisfaction with family life, and family functioning. Findings of this study indicated that there were no differences between single parent and dual parent families in the types of activities they participated in, how often they participated in activities with family members, the duration of participation, the importance placed on participation, or their satisfaction with participation in overall core or balance leisure activities. Some differences were found between the two family types in the different measures of leisure participation within individual activity categories. Examination of the types of activities respondents indicated they would like to participate in more with family members, and constraints respondents felt limited this participation found no differences between the two family types. Differences were found between the two family types in their overall satisfaction with family life and in family cohesion. Dual parent family respondents were more satisfied with their family life than single parent family respondents and dual parent family respondents reported higher levels of family cohesion than single parent family respondents. No differences were found between the two family types in family adaptability.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Weber, John Joseph

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lynn Barnett-Morris

• Sociology, Individual and Family Studies

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3131049

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/86006