Understanding the relationships among central characteristics of serious leisure: An empirical study of older adults in competitive sports

This study presents a structural model that explores relationships among six central characteristics of serious leisure. Older adults (N = 459) from two Senior Games completed a self-report questionnaire to assess involvement in serious leisure. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that perseverance, effort, career development, unique ethos, and identification positively predicted levels of personal outcomes, as indexed by personal enrichment, self-actualization, enjoyment, and self-fulfillment. The model also showed positive effects of perseverance and career contingencies on unique ethos as well as the influence of significant effort and career contingencies on identification. The findings of this study have extended the existing body of knowledge in leisure studies literature by quantitatively testing the interrelationships among the central characteristics of serious leisure.