CONCEPTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS OF LEISURE: STRUCTURING KNOWLEDGE

Abstract

This study proposes a contemporary concept of leisure by integrating established and emerging theoretical perspectives. Through evolutionary concept analysis (Rodgers, 1989) and a integrative review of 223 Web of Science articles, leisure is framed as a phenomenon characterized by three interdependent elements: activity, temporal context, and subjective experience. The definition differentiates leisure from both its consequences (e.g., rest, personal development, social integration) and from work activities - even when pleasurable - thereby challenging reductionist views that conflate leisure with free time, specific activities, or universally positive experiences. By accounting for individual and sociocultural contextual influences, this framework provides conceptual clarity while advancing a pluralistic approach to theorizing leisure. Ultimately, it aims to promote inclusivity and inform equitable leisure policies and practices.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.029-122