Adolescent and Adult Leisure Patterns: A Reassessment

Using data drawn from a panel study of persons originally surveyed in 1947, this research note updates findings reported in a previous analysis (Scott & Willits, 1989) concerning the linkages between adolescent leisure participation and involvement in similar activities later in life. We previously reported that the leisure activities people engaged in as high school sophomores were predictive of the same kinds of leisure activities they pursued in 1984 when the respondents were in their fifties. The present analysis examined these relationships using data from the same subjects collected in 1992. Adolescent leisure participation continued to be predictive of the leisure choices of these people in their early sixties as well. Moreover, adolescent leisure participation was among the better predictors of adult leisure involvement at both points in these adults' lives. Together, these findings support the continuing long-term impact of youthful leisure involvement.