The relationship between serious leisure and recreation specialization in sportspeople with and without physical disabilities

Abstract

This study analyzes whether the relationship between serious leisure and recreation specialization differs for federated sportspeople with and without physical disabilities. Sportspeople with and without physical disabilities in the Basque Country (Spain) (n = 370) completed a questionnaire assessing the component dimensions of two constructs, “serious leisure” and “recreation specialization”. The Serious Leisure Inventory and Measure (SLIM) and the Recreation Specialization Index (RSI) were used in the analysis. Results showed an association between these concepts in competitive sports in both samples. However, the magnitudes of association between the total of both concepts were higher in the group with physical disabilities. Regarding perceptions about their sports practice, the group without physical disabilities showed higher levels of specialization but there were no substantial differences between their levels of serious leisure participation. In conclusion, seriousness and specialization were found to be key issues for sportspeople's practice of leisure, regardless of their physical condition.

The Impact of Cycling Specialization on Successful Aging and the Mediating Role of Loneliness

“…In general, loneliness was originated from the individuals’ imbalanced social relationship regarding what they expected and they really have [ 5 , 36 ]. When elderly adults progressed along the specialization continuum (i.e., from general to specialized), they will experience a lot of durable benefits of Stebbins’ serious leisure frame [ 12 , 33 ]. Then, those benefits can weaken the degree of loneliness in individuals’ aging life.…”

“…For example, Song et al examined the differences in hikers’ place attachment, demographics, past experiences, satisfaction, and intention to revisit according to degree of specialization (i.e., novice, affection-driven, and expert) [ 32 ]. In addition, other studies also explored the influence of specialization on other variables, including serious leisure [ 28 , 33 ], subjective well-being [ 19 , 34 ], leisure satisfaction [ 35 ] and so on.…”

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“…Sports has played a significant role in the development process of our country, and it can also enable the public to achieve the goal of happy body, self-improvement, and self-cultivation [ 1 ] At present, China's leisure sports industry has ushered in a favorable development condition: from the economic point of view, as proposed in the communique of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China's economic and social contradictions have begun to shift from “material and cultural needs” to “normal life needs,” and people's income levels have increased significantly [ 2 ]. The consumption concept has changed from advocating diet and clothing to advocating health and happiness and other higher levels [ 3 ].…”

Recreational scuba diving as a special form of tourism: lessons from Taiwan

“…The term recreation specialization refers to a continuum of recreational behavior from the general to the specific, reflected by the equipment and skills used in sport and recreation activity setting preferences (Wellman et al , 1982; Schreyer and Beaulieu, 1986; Donnelly et al , 1986; Iraurgi et al , 2021). Bryan (1977) proposes that specialization is a continuous behavior from vague interests in activities and lower involvement to specific interests and higher involvement.…”