Meanings of Leisure and its Impacts on the Experience of Escapism, Personal Fulfillment, and Use of Spaces

Purpose – The aim of this study is to analyze how the meanings of leisure are related to leisure choices and habits in a community. Design/methodology/approach – The research is quantitative and descriptive, using secondary data from the Focus Project. The sample included 3,959 respondents, stratified by age, sex, level of education, and income. The analysis was based on the leisure dimensions of Schulz and Watkins (2007): Escaping Pressure and Achieving Fulfillment. Findings – The results show that leisure is used both to relieve everyday pressures and to achieve personal fulfillment. Public spaces are associated with a greater sense of freedom and emotional satisfaction, while private environments tend to limit these experiences. Behavioral patterns highlight the connection between well-being and recreational choices. Practical implication - The study highlights the need for inclusive public policies and infrastructure investments to democratize access to leisure spaces and activities, ensuring stress relief, personal fulfillment, and social well-being—especially in socioeconomically unequal contexts like Brazil. Originality/value – The study integrates subjective meanings of leisure with practical habits, using a representative sample. Its multidimensional approach provides insights for promoting well-being, emphasizing the importance of public spaces and the emotional dimensions of leisure. Research limitations - The findings of this study are limited by the geographically restricted sample (affecting generalizability) and the cross-sectional design (preventing causal inferences), highlighting the need for more diverse and longitudinal research.