Alcoholics' perception of leisure.

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Abstract
To clarify why free time represents a special problem and perhaps a critical component in the treatment of alcoholics, their attitudes toward leisure were compared with those of a matched group of nonalcoholics. In a replication design, 2 groups of alcoholics (84 and 99) and a norm group (80) completed A Study of Leisure questionnaire measuring 5 leisure attitude dimensions and perceptions of the concepts of leisure and work. The alcoholics were voluntary patients in a 6-wk rehabilitation program at a Veterans Administration hospital, all men, primarily middle-class, with generally stable work histories. They were tested within 48 h of admission, and were free of withdrawal symptoms. The alcoholics consistently differed from the norm; they perceived themselves as having more leisure than they wanted, as more work-oriented and as preferring highly structured free-time activities. They also perceived leisure more negatively than did the norm group; leisure was less active, full and desirable, less interesting, pleasant and necessary and less meaningful, valuable and good. The alcoholics also placed less emphasis on sex as a leisure activity than did the norm group. A counseling approach emphasizing control and structure was suggested.

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