Leisure-Related Social Support and Self-Determination as Buffers of Stress-Illness Relationship

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that leisure-generated social support (companionship and friendship) and the self-determination disposition (perceived freedom and intrinsic motivation) buffer the adverse effects of life stress on mental and physical health problems. Data were provided by 252 subjects who were 18 to 65 years old and practitioners of Taekwondo sport as a leisure activity. Results indicated that life stress was positively related to mental and physical illness symptoms and negatively related to perceived health, regardless of any moderating variables. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses, however, showed that leisure companionship moderated the effect of life stress on mental illness (depression) symptoms, whereas leisure friendship did the same for physical illness symptoms. Data provided no support for the positive moderating effect of the self-determination disposition. In general, results confirm the importance of social support derived from leisure activity participation and suggest that it is the activity and things done with friends/companions that buffer the adverse effects of stress on physical and mental health.