The new human development paradigm rests on the human and cultural capital of peoples and revolves around the challenge of increasing the well-being and happiness of people. Therefore, leisure understood in today’s societies as one of the key means to feel good, satisfied with life and reaffirmed in the pursuit of a meaning for life, seems to be ultimately called to play a key role in promoting human development processes. The contents of this book are a good proof of it. Each chapter focuses on a different approach, discipline or group and highlights the potential of leisure experiences for human development. This book is an invitation to reflection and thought on issues that, far from being irrelevant, have a bearing on people's future, in terms of happiness, well-being and quality of life. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that future leisure develops under the guidelines of a leisure that contributes to human development.

This is an examination of the link between human development and behavior in a context, leisure, that has been described as encompassing one third of people's time. This text examines human development as it affects and is affected by leisure -- what people do when they are relatively free to choose their behaviors. Douglas Kleiber and Francis McGuire, two highly respected academics, developed this book around age-based periods of life. The authors assert that leisure relates to human development in three fundamental ways: human development influences leisure behaviour, leisure behaviors influence development, leisure plays a role in moderating the effects of life events. In developing these themes, the authors have invited highly qualified academics to draw on their expertise in fleshing them out, not only by age and life stage but also by activity themes that carry across the life cycle. The book approaches the topic of leisure across the lifespan from a developmental perspective: the orderly, patterned, enduring trajectory of life. A central idea of this book is that both theories for developmental psychology and research findings can lead to practical application -- the so what question is addressed throughout the book. Thus, even though it is a book bounded by developmental theory, it is immediately useful for the student (or anyone else) seeking to understand leisure in everyday life across the lifespan. The authors of these chapters imply, both directly and indirectly, that leisure can be and is identity producing. This is an important book, edited and written by leading authors in the field. It will find a lasting readership among all those interested in understanding and improving human development.

This text explores the relevance of leisure experience (play, sport, happiness, quality of life, and well-being) to optimum human development, using a unique lifespan development approach.

This book explores, from a leisure studies perspective, the central role that leisure has to play in positive psychology, exploring themes such as flow, fulfilment, altruism, well-being, and interpersonal relationships.

"Leisure is everywhere, but its impact on people's lives is often overlooked. Leisure is more than “doing nothing” or “hanging out.” It has implications for society, affecting economics, politics, business, health, and the environment. On an individual level, it offers multiple opportunities for personal growth and development. And it contributes to a better quality of life for individuals and communities as a whole. With Dimensions of Leisure for Life: Individuals and Society, students will learn to understand and appreciate leisure and explore the ways that their leisure choices can help them lead happier, more balanced lives both now and in the future. ... With contributions from 22 leading professors, the book examines the following: the concept of leisure, including the various ways in which it has been defined and described, the benefits associated with it, the scope of the leisure industry field, and the basis for studying leisure as a social science; the impact of leisure on quality of life, health, physical activity and stress levels, and overall happiness and well-being; the social significance of leisure, including the interaction of leisure with history, contemporary society, technology, the environment, economics, and politics and public policy; the factors that influence each individual's leisure choices and level of involvement in leisure activities, such as awareness of local options, barriers of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status, geographic distribution of leisure spaces; and maturity level and stage of development."--Publisher.

Volume numbers determined from Scope of the guidelines, p. 12-13.

In approximately 800 signed articles by experts from a wide diversity of fields, this encyclopedia explores all individual and situational factors related to human development across the lifespan.