d nonwork conflict, life stress and support, and money. Leisure desires and opportunities may differ for men and women (Foley, Maxwell, & McGillivray, 1999). In fact a lack of access to leisure for women may be supported by cultural demands. For example, leisure activities in the workplace are geared for men with the provision of gyms (that men enjoy) rather than aerobic space (that women enjoy). Further, females require childcare or may lack safe transportation to leisure activities that take place in the evening (Foley, et al., 1999). The needs for and benefits of leisure are exemplified with the results of leisure education. Leisure education leads to increased leisure control and competence, life satisfaction, locus of control and decreased leisure boredom, which leads to increased psychological well-being (Searle, et al., 1995; 1998).
The problem is that although research supports the relationship between leisure and life satisfaction the nature of this relationship remains unclear. Findings have shown that difficulties defining and measuring leisure may be the cause of inconsistent or inconclusive findings. A study is needed to distinguish between positive and negative leisure definitions and determine effects of each on life satisfaction and life variables. Also needed is a framework that allows for the study of the direction of the relationship.
Previous literature supports the notion that leisure is related to life satisfaction and many other life variables. However, findings are inconclusive and require further investigation. The study of leisure has been problematic due to multiple definitions and measurement procedures. Unger and Kernan (1983) determined that leisure has been studied for centuries and it still remains elusive since there are thousands of definitions of leisure. Stockhausen (1998) presented the distinction between leisure that is good for the whole and leisure that is self-indulgent or n...