Individuals with cognitive exceptionalities and reported lifestyle satisfaction: The relationship of leisure awareness, participation, and barriers

The primary purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable inventory to collect data on reported leisure/recreation awareness, leisure/recreation participation, barriers to leisure/recreation activities, and lifestyle satisfaction for individuals with cognitive exceptionalities. A secondary purpose of the study was to determine if a relationship existed between the leisure/recreation variables and reported lifestyle satisfaction for individuals with cognitive exceptionalities. Leisure and recreation activities assist individuals to lead healthy lifestyles and benefit an individuals' physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development. The dependent variable used in the analyses was lifestyle satisfaction. The predictor variables were leisure/recreation awareness, barriers to leisure/recreation, and leisure/recreation participation. Data were collected from responses ( N = 54) on the Leisure Recreation Access and Lifestyle Satisfaction Inventory (LRALS) and analyzed to determine if a relationship existed between the variables using a linear regression model. The coefficient alpha reliabilities were .90 to .98 for the leisure/recreation and lifestyle satisfaction variables. The Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were .83 to .98, p < .05 for the test-retest of the inventory. Results of the statistical analyses concluded that a positive relationship existed between reported leisure/recreation awareness and reported lifestyle satisfaction for the respondents. A negative relationship existed between reported barriers to leisure/recreation activities and reported leisure/recreation participation for the respondents. A positive relationship existed between reported leisure/recreation participation and reported lifestyle satisfaction for the respondents. The predictive accuracy of a model composed of (reported leisure/recreation awareness, leisure/recreation participation, and barriers to leisure/recreation to lifestyle satisfaction) R2 = .18 was significant, F(3, 50) = 3.67, p < .05. The predictive accuracy of a model composed of (reported leisure/recreation awareness, leisure/recreation participation, barriers to leisure/recreation and demographic data to lifestyle satisfaction) R2 = .32 was significant, F(10, 43) = 2.10, p < .05. The LRALS Inventory assists individuals to report perceived leisure/recreation and lifestyle satisfaction indices. The inventory can assist service providers to plan personnel, facilities, and equipment based on consumer choices.