Eudaimonia in Action: Leisure in the Lives of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29120/jds.v12i2.803Abstract
Leisure is a domain in life that allows for rest, relaxation, development and engagement of the individual. Drawing on a phenomenological study among persons with intellectual disabilities in Kerala, the paper explores the nature of their leisure experiences. The findings reveal that leisure for the participants is not a discrete activity or time slot but a deeply embedded, relational, and purposive aspect of everyday life. By drawing on the narratives and leisure routines of the participants, the paper argues that participants’ leisure experiences are characterized by meaning-making, emotional connection, and the pursuit of self-affirmation, even within constraint.
Keywords: Intellectual disability, leisure, eudaimonia, participative research
References
Aitchison, C. (2003). From leisure and disability to disability leisure: Developing data, definitions and discourses. Disability & Society, 18(7), 955–969. https://doi.org/10.1080/0968759032000127353
Best, S. (2010). Leisure studies: Themes and perspectives. SAGE Publications.
Buttimer, J., & Tierney, E. (2005). Patterns of leisure participation among adolescents with a mild intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 9(1), 25–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629505049726
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.
Darcy, S., & Dowse, L. (2013). In search of a level playing field – the constraints and benefits of sport participation for people with intellectual disability. Disability & Society, 28(3), 393–407. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2012.714258
Dumazedier, J. (1974). Sociology of leisure. Elsevier.
Kaplan, M. (1975). Leisure: Theory and policy. Wiley.
Karr, K., & Lashua, B. (2004). Leisure and pleasure: Identity and late-modern consumer culture. Leisure Studies, 23(4), 307–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/0261436042000231653
Kelly, J. R. (2000). Changing issues in leisure: Implications for wellness. Society and Leisure, 23(2), 461–482. https://doi.org/10.1080/07053436.2000.10715597
Keyes, C. L. M., Shmotkin, D., & Ryff, C. D. (2002). Optimizing well-being: The empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 1007–1022. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.1007
Mannell, R. C., & Kleiber, D. A. (1997). A social psychology of leisure. Venture Publishing.
Mobily, K. E. (1989). Meaningful activity and life satisfaction: Selected theoretical and empirical issues. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 23(3), 47–56.
Molden, T., & Tøssebro, J. (2009). Disability and participation in the digital society: A comparative analysis of leisure activities. Disability & Society, 24(2), 147–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687590802652426
Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. SAGE Publications.
Odegård, A. (2009). Participation in occupation and everyday activities among adults with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Occupational Science, 16(1), 45–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2009.9686649
Parr, M., & Lashua, B. (2010). What is leisure? A conceptual review. Leisure Studies, 29(2), 167–183. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614361003716927
Raisborough, J. (2007). Lifestyle media and the formation of the self. In S. Casey, N. Casey, & J. Kelly (Eds.), Leisure lives: Intersections of leisure and life. Routledge.
Reynolds, F. (2002). Symbolic aspects of coping with chronic illness through textile arts. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 29(2), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0197-4556(02)00140-8
Rogers, N. B., Hawkins, B. A., & Eklund, S. J. (1998). The leisure experience of older adults with developmental disabilities: A qualitative study. Journal of Leisure Research, 30(4), 397–418. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.1998.11949801
Roulstone, A., & Barnes, C. (2005). Working futures? Disabled people, policy and social inclusion. Policy Press.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141–166. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141
Shaw, S. M. (1985). The meaning of leisure in everyday life. Leisure Sciences, 7(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490408509512103
Solish, A., Perry, A., & Minnes, P. (2010). Participation of children with and without disabilities in social, recreational and leisure activities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(3), 226–236. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3148.2009.00525.x
Staines, G. L. (1980). Spillover versus compensation: A review of the literature on the relationship between work and nonwork. Human Relations, 33(2), 111–129. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872678003300203
Stebbins, R. A. (2007). Serious leisure: A perspective for our time. Transaction Publishers.
Veal, A. J., & Lynch, R. (2002). Australian leisure. Longman.
Waterman, A. S. (1993). Two conceptions of happiness: Contrasts of personal expressiveness (eudaimonia) and hedonic enjoyment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64(4), 678–691. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.64.4.678
Wilensky, H. L. (1960). Work, careers, and social integration. International Social Science Journal, 12(4), 543–560.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Febna Reheem S, Lekshmi V Nair
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
