Role of Leisure in Recovery From Mental Illness

Conceptually supported by recovery, positive psychology, and health promotion perspectives, this study explored the role of leisure in recovery and health among culturally diverse individuals with mental illness. One-on-one survey interviews were conducted with Black (n = 35), Hispanic/Latino (n = 28), White (n = 28), and Asian (n = 8) adults (aged between 23 and 78) with mental illness (N = 101). A variety of mental health diagnoses were represented in the sample (e.g., bipolar disorder, n = 32; major depression, n = 23; schizophrenia, n = 22). Regression analyses were performed to estimate the predictive effects of leisure variables on recovery, health, and psychiatric symptoms. The findings emphasize the importance of: (a) meanings that persons with mental illness gain from leisure (e.g., connection/belonging, identity, freedom/autonomy) (i.e., meaning making via leisure) and (b) leisure opportunities to fight against or reduce perceptions of boredom (i.e., boredom reduction in leisure) as both of these were significant predictors of recovery. Also, a greater perception of being actively engaged/involved (i.e., perceived active living) was a significant predictor of recovery and overall physical and mental health and less frequent psychiatric symptoms, whereby leisure potentially provides a key context for the pursuit of active living. Furthermore, the use of leisure both for coping with stress (i.e., stress coping via leisure) and reducing boredom significantly predicted fewer psychiatric symptoms. The findings highlight the need to consider the experiences, feelings/emotions, and meanings that people with mental illness gain from leisure beyond simply behavioral forms of leisure (i.e., leisure activities) per se by respectfully appreciating the cultural diversity of people with mental illness.