Leisure, Ageing, Culture & Leisure, Ageing, Culture & Mental HealthMental Health

Robert B. PereiraRobert B. PereiraMatthew EbdenMatthew Ebden

Karen Stagnitti PhDKaren Stagnitti PhD

ContentsContentsIntroduction of Topic AreaMethodParticipantsProcedureData AnalysisResults and DiscussionConclusion

IntroductionIntroduction

Australia’s multicultural societyPopulation predictions in the 21st century

It is projected that Australia’s population aged 65 years and over by the year 2031, will reach 5.4 million, representing 22 percent of the total population (compared with 12 percent in 1999)

(ABS, 2002a)

IntroductionIntroduction

Healthcare trends What is ‘leisure’?

“…those activities [not pertaining to work] which produce intrinsic rewards and provide the participant with life-enhancing meaning and a sense of pleasure”

(Reid as cited in Suto, 1998, p. 274)

IntroductionIntroduction Mental health professions:- Psychiatry- Psychology- Mental Health Nursing- Social Work- Occupational Therapy

(Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, 2002)

Occupational therapy, leisure and mental health

IntroductionIntroduction

Need for research into leisure, ageing, culture and health

Increasing challenges with service demand and delivery of culture-appropriate practice (Bonder, Martin & Miracle, 2004; Fitzgerald, Mullavey-O’Byrne & Clemson, 1997; Iwama, 2003; Watts & Carlson, 2002; Wittman & Velde, 2002)

The Research QuestionThe Research Question

“What are the subjective experiences of leisure categorised by Italian community members aged 65 and over living in the

Barwon-Southwestern Region of Victoria?”

MethodMethodQualitative research investigationPhenomenological approach

“Phenomenological research aims to elicit life experiences and their meanings through people’s perceptions and interpretations of their lives” (Barber, 2004; DePoy & Gitlin, 1998; Law, 1998; Stanford University, 2003)

ParticipantsParticipantsRecruitmentHow many participants?

Inclusion CriteriaInclusion Criteria• Aged 65 and over• Born in Italy• Living in the Barwon-Soutwestern Region of Victoria• Retired and not in paid workforce• Independent at home, living without community

supports (e.g. district nursing services)• Ambulant• Have English communicational skills, and• The participant may or may not have chronic

disease or illness

Places of Birth in ItalyPlaces of Birth in Italy

InstrumentsInstruments

Two methods of data collection were used in this investigation:

1. Participant observation, and2. Semi-structured interviews

Instruments

Participant ObservationParticipant Observation

Periodically from March through to July, 2005

Visits to the club (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays)

Participant ObservationParticipant Observation

Building of rapport and strong personal connections with people of a culturally diverse background

Semi-structured InterviewsSemi-structured InterviewsCommenced mid-July and were

completed by the end of the monthParticipant observation ceased on last

day of interviewing in JulyConsiderations made with interviewing

older ItaliansBecoming an active participant-

researcher

Research ConsiderationsResearch Considerations

Awareness of cultural sensitivity:1. Approaching members2. Using the formal tense of the Italian

language during dialogue3. Gender differences

Researcher’s own ethnic background

Semi-structured InterviewsSemi-structured Interviews

30 to 45 minutes duration (approximately)

Four interviews were completed entirely in Italian

Two different private rooms were used at the club

Data AnalysisData Analysis

Preliminary research findings Transcription Thematic analysis of 3 variables:(1) Leisure activity(ies)(2) Subjective experience (meanings

derived from participating in leisure)(3) Health benefit(s)

ResultsResults

Forty-one relationships found between (1) leisure activity(ies), (2) subjective experience and (3) health benefit(s)

Leisure Activities Engaged by Leisure Activities Engaged by Older ItaliansOlder Italians

Leisure in general (broader concept of leisure not specifically defined)

BocceSocialisingWalkingGardening

Subjective ExperiencesSubjective Experiences

Well-defined positive subjective experiences elicited from thematic analysis

Were directly related to the three major concepts of leisure theory:

- ‘Intrinsic motivation’- ‘Freedom to suspend reality’ and- ‘Internal control’

- (Bundy, 1993; Söderback & Hammarlund, 1993)

Examples of Subjective Examples of Subjective ExperiencesExperiences

“[Leisure] makes you feel happy, contented” (Participants 5 & 7)

“I enjoy doing them (leisure activities)” (Participants 1, 4, 5, 7, & 8)

“[I engage in leisure activities] for fun” (Participants 1, 4, 7, & 9)

Health Benefits from Engaging Health Benefits from Engaging in Leisurein Leisure

The actual ‘doing’ component of leisure was related with living longer

Participants felt better when they participated in leisure activities as well as acknowledging that leisure increased their mental and physical health and strength respectively

Health Benefits from Engaging Health Benefits from Engaging in Leisurein Leisure

Descriptions of relaxation were also found to be a major health benefit for the majority of participants. Participant 2 described such a relationship:

“…It [leisure] relaxes you and when you enjoy doing things like that, it’s good for your health”

Health Benefits from Engaging Health Benefits from Engaging in Leisurein Leisure

A unique finding in this investigation was found with relation to happiness, enjoyment and ‘suspension from reality’ (Bundy, 1993)

They are historically known as subjective experiences of leisure

Participants in this investigation applied these experiences in context towards health benefits in their own right

Leisure and feeling Leisure and feeling ‘Depressed’‘Depressed’

Three participants linked remaining inactive at home and lying down with feeling ‘depressed’

They highlighted how they engaged in leisure activities to combat such feelings related to ill-health and wellbeing

ConclusionConclusionLimitationsContribution of allied health

professionals in mental healthIntegrating culturally sensitive practice

techniquesFuture directions towards guiding

improved outcomes and promoting healthy lifestyles

ThankyouThankyou