The Dynamics of Leisure Motivation: The Effects of Outcome on Leisure Needs

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Abstract
Predicated upon the premise that leisure needs are socially determined and therefore dynamic qualities of leisure motivation, this field study investigated the effects of outcome (winning, losing, no outcome) of leisure participation on male and female subjects' leisure needs. Subjects were 438 players of 60 teams in the intramural basketball program comprised of competitive and recreational leagues. Factor analysis produced seven need factors, of which three dealt with interpersonal relationships, two with competence and two with escape or diversion. ANOVAs performed on the resultant factor scores showed that successful and unsuccessful leisure experiences strongly shaped subjects' needs for leisure participation, but these effects were often mediated by the sex of subjects and the competitive levels of leagues in which they played. Generally, winning and losing had just the opposite effects on males' and females' needs; winning increased females' and decreased males' needs. The effects of competitiveness of league types suggested that competitive and recreational leagues serve different psychological functions for males and females because the two leagues are expected to fulfill different leisure needs.

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