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Are People Who Participate in Cultural Activities More Satisfied with Life?

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  • Jennifer Brown
  • Ronald MacDonald
  • Richard Mitchell

Abstract

The influence of various aspects of life on wellbeing has been extensively researched. However, despite little empirical evidence, participation in leisure activities has been assumed to increase subjective wellbeing. Leisure is important because it is more under personal control than other sources of life satisfaction. This study asked whether people who participate in cultural leisure activities have higher life satisfaction than people who do not, if different types of leisure have the same influence on life satisfaction and if satisfaction is dependent on the frequency of participation or the number of activities undertaken. It used data from UKHLS Survey to establish associations between type, number and frequency of participation in leisure activities and life satisfaction. Results showed an independent and positive association of participation in sport, heritage and active-creative leisure activities and life satisfaction but not for participation in popular entertainment, theatre hobbies and museum/galleries. The association of reading hobbies and sedentary-creative activities and life satisfaction was negative. High life satisfaction was associated with engaging in a number of different activities rather than the frequency of participation in each of them. The results have implications for policy makers and leisure services providers, in particular those associated with heritage recreation. Subjective wellbeing measures, such as life satisfaction, and not economic measures alone should be considered in the evaluation of services. The promotion of leisure activities which are active and promote social interaction should be considered in programmes aimed at improving the quality of life. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer Brown & Ronald MacDonald & Richard Mitchell, 2015. "Are People Who Participate in Cultural Activities More Satisfied with Life?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 122(1), pages 135-146, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:122:y:2015:i:1:p:135-146
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-014-0678-7
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    1. Jelle Schoemaker, 2023. "A Review of Well-Being Valuation for Sports, Culture and Leisure Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Massimo Mucciardi & Giovanni Pirrotta & Mary Ellen Toffle, 2024. "Measuring the spatial concentration of the main foreign communities residing in Italy using a new approach," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 78(1), pages 142-154, January-M.
    3. Seira Iida, 2019. "Structure of life satisfaction from the perspective of arts experiences in Japan," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Paul Downward & Peter Dawson, 2016. "Is it Pleasure or Health from Leisure that We Benefit from Most? An Analysis of Well-Being Alternatives and Implications for Policy," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 443-465, March.
    5. Malte Jetzke & Michael Mutz, 2020. "Sport for Pleasure, Fitness, Medals or Slenderness? Differential Effects of Sports Activities on Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(5), pages 1519-1534, November.
    6. Fabrice Murtin & Leonardo Zanobetti, 2024. "The Art of Living Well: Cultural Participation and Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(4), pages 1763-1790, August.
    7. Anita Abramowska-Kmon, 2022. "What Makes People Aged 50+ in Poland Happy? The Role of Lifestyle: Evidence from Panel Data," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(6), pages 3221-3252, December.
    8. Tiia Kekäläinen & Terhi-Anna Wilska & Katja Kokko, 2017. "Leisure Consumption and well-Being among Older Adults: Does Age or Life Situation Matter?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(3), pages 671-691, September.
    9. Bertacchini, Enrico & Venturini, Alessandra & Misuraca, Roberta & Zotti, Roberto, 2022. "Exploring the relationship between subjective well-being and diversity and intensity in cultural consumption," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202219, University of Turin.
    10. Bertacchini, Enrico & Bolognesi, Valentina & Venturini, Alessandra & Zotti, Roberto, 2021. "The Happy Cultural Omnivore? Exploring the Relationship between Cultural Consumption Patterns and Subjective Well-Being," IZA Discussion Papers 14749, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes & María del Mar Molero Jurado & José Jesús Gázquez Linares & Nieves Fátima Oropesa Ruiz & María del Mar Simón Márquez & Mahia Saracostti, 2019. "Parenting Practices, Life Satisfaction, and the Role of Self-Esteem in Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-15, October.
    12. Choung, Youngjoo & Pak, Tae-Young & Chatterjee, Swarn, 2021. "Consumption and Life Satisfaction: The Korean Evidence," MPRA Paper 115765, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Michael Mutz & Anne K. Reimers & Yolanda Demetriou, 2021. "Leisure Time Sports Activities and Life Satisfaction: Deeper Insights Based on a Representative Survey from Germany," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(5), pages 2155-2171, October.
    14. Yan Li & Md. Main Uddin & Ye An, 2020. "Has financial development benefited the performance of publicly traded cultural and creative firms? Evidence from China," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 44(3), pages 351-395, September.

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