Starting, Ceasing, and Replacing Leisure Activities Over the Life-Span

Aggregate (sample-wide) and intrapersonal patterns of leisure behavior (starting, ceasing and replacing leisure activities) are examined as a function of successive developmental periods of the life-span. In an Alberta survey, completed questionnaires were received from 3,927 households. The results showed that the number of people “starting” new activities declined from the first adult life stage to the third before leveling off in the fourth and final stage. The number of people “replacing” activities indicated a similar decline from the first to the third adult stage, after which there was a slight increase. The number of people “ceasing” leisure activities declined from the first to the fourth stage, while the reverse was true for “continuers” of participation in the same activities. Although the overall quantity of leisure participation may decrease with years, the data did not indicate that starting of all types of activities declines over the life stages: the number of people starting physically demanding and outside-home activities decreased with advancing adult life stages, but there was a significant increase in the number of people starting “hobbies” and “home-based” activities over the life cycle. The findings are discussed in relation to Levinson's developmental model of the four “seasons” of life and developmental leisure theory, according to which people's need for optimally arousing experiences (a balance between novelty and stability) varies with life stages.