1. Chapter 7 7 Contemporary Leisure Virginia Dilworth C H A P T E R

2. Learning Outcomes Understand the impact of constraints on your leisure. Realize the impact of technology on your life. Understand the importance of active leisure. Know the benefits of volunteering. Understand today’s popular culture.

3. Chapter Overview Generation Y Constraints of leisure Benefits of leisure Trends in contemporary leisure Volunteerism

4. Generation Y: Is This You? Approximate birth years: 1977 to 2000 –Millennials –Generation Next –Echo Boom –Digital Generation Technologically savvy Racially and ethnically diverse (continued)

5. Generation Y: Is This You? (continued) Tend to have been raised in a family-centered culture Living in the age of the Internet Always had cable television Living in the age of globalization Experienced September 11, 2001 Environmentalism is an accepted practice

6. Technology has changed the way we communicate at work and at leisure.

7. Constraints of Leisure Intrapersonal: Internal perceptions or beliefs that affect one’s intentions (e.g., do not believe it is an appropriate activity for you) Interpersonal: The result of interaction between people (e.g., lack of companions) Structural: Interfere with participation in an activity (e.g., lack of time, money, access)

8. Benefits of Leisure: Personal Psychological benefits –Personal growth –Reduction of stress Physiological benefits: can have an increased life expectancy by –improving cardiovascular and respiratory functions, –increasing muscular strength and bone mass, and –decreasing body fat.

9. Benefits of Leisure: Social and Cultural Improve life on the community and society scale Examples: –Improved health results in fewer lost days at work or school. –A person who volunteers as a Little League coach or troop leader is contributing to the overall health of the community.

10. Benefits of Leisure: Economic Societal level: Local and regional growth –Employment –Retail sales –Hospitality and tourism enterprises –Venues and facilities

11. Benefits of Leisure: Environmental Direct benefits: environmental enhancement activities (e.g., river cleanup) Indirect benefits: environmental ethic (e.g., park stewardship)

12. Trends in Contemporary Leisure Technology Health and wellness Environment and health Popular culture –Sports –Action sports

13. Extreme sports are an integral part of leisure in popular culture.

14. Trends: Technology The Internet and the shrinking world The Net generation Gaming devices –Xbox –GPS –PDA

15. Trends: Health and Wellness Health concerns –Over 17% of children ages 2 to 19 are overweight. –Over 38% of college students exercise less than 2 hours per week. Surgeon general’s recommendations on physical exercise –Regular exercise (most days of week) –Need strengthening and aerobic exercise –More exercise means greater benefits –Benefits outweigh possible adverse outcomes

16. Surgeon General’s Pledge Be a role model by making healthy choices for myself. Help children be physically active through daily play and participation in sports. Support children’s healthy eating habits. A healthy future is our gift to our children.

17. Trends: The Environment and Health Nature-deficit disorder Access to green space Restorative opportunities

18. Sustainable practices are increasingly evident in many aspects of our society. Wind farms are just one example.

19. Trends: Popular Culture Widely favored or well liked by many people Mass-produced commercial culture Social networking sites Reality shows (continued)

20. Trends: Popular Culture (continued) Sports as a multimedia event: audience participation Evolution of fantasy leagues: over 27 million American adults participate Action sports –X-Games and extreme sports –Audience participation

21. Service Learning and Volunteerism Alternative spring break Volunteerism versus forced volunteerism: extrinsic versus intrinsic rewards

22. Volunteerism and You Ask yourself the following questions: 1.How often did I volunteer in high school? Where? What types of service? How did I benefit? 2.How often do I volunteer now that I am in college? Where? What type of service? How did I benefit? 3.Has your volunteer service increased? Decreased? (continued)

23. Volunteerism and You (continued) Ask yourself the following questions: 4.Has the type of service you engage in changed? 5.Did your benefits change? How? 6.What do the changes tell you about yourself and the way you use your leisure time?

24. Conclusion Examine leisure in your life. What constraints do you face? What benefits do you receive? Are you living a healthy lifestyle?