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Leisure can serve as a resource for managing stress and eliciting positive thoughts and emotions, which contribute to well-being. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between leisure satisfaction, hope, stress-related growth (SRG), and psychological well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 547 U.S. residents completed an online survey in July 2020. A series of path analyses were used to examine six hypotheses. The results showed leisure satisfaction positively impacts SRG and enhances hope. One surprising finding is the negative relationship between leisure and psychological well-being, which is worthy of further investigation. The study highlights the importance of leisure in generating positive emotions about the future, and the role of hope in mediating the relationship between pleasurable leisure experiences and SRG during periods of adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents play a vital role in influencing their children's outdoor recreation participation. Families can enjoy nature and stay active in state parks, which provide abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation and education. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parents' experiences with, and attitudes toward, outdoor recreation and children's participation in outdoor recreation for one state park system. A total of 104 parents completed an online survey in spring 2020. In these state park settings, parents generally valued their children's participation in nonconsumptive outdoor recreation activities more than consumptive activities. A series of chi-square analyses further indicated, however, that parents who prefer engaging in consumptive recreation activities placed higher importance on their children's participation in the consumptive activities of fishing and hunting. Parents' outdoor recreation activity preferences did not reflect differences in their own levels of physical activity but did relate to variations in their children's physical activity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine well-being, loneliness, and hope among single and partnered adults in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 560 adults in the U.S. (50.2% female, 48.9% male, 28.7% single, 71.3% partnered) completed an online survey regarding their experiences amid the global health crisis. Results indicated that single and partnered individuals reported similar experiences of loneliness, hope, and well-being. Furthermore, hope served as a significant positive predictor of psychological well-being for both single and partnered individuals. Single and partnered individuals also engaged in a similar number of social interactions during the pandemic. The nature of these interactions (i.e., in-person vs. digital), however, uniquely predicted well-being across relationship status. Among single individuals, connecting with others in person significantly predicted well-being, whereas digital connections did not. The inverse was found for partnered individuals, where digital connections predicted well-being, but in-person interactions did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted all aspects of life, parents have been subjected to more household and caregiving responsibilities and stressors. The purpose of this study is to investigate how hope, self-compassion, and perception of COVID-19 health risks influence parenting stress. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 362 parents living in the United States completed an online survey in July 2020. Multiple regression analyses revealed that higher levels of hope are related to lower levels of parenting stress. On the other hand, lower levels of self-compassion as indicated by higher scores on the subscales of isolation, self-judgment, and overidentification are related to higher levels of parenting stress. Further, testing positive for the coronavirus is positively related to parenting stress, whereas the belief that COVID-19 is a serious disease is negatively related to parenting stress. Findings also revealed the significant role of hope in moderating the relation between self-compassion and parenting stress. This study highlights the importance of nurturing and drawing from one's own psychological resources to mitigate parenting stress, particularly in the context of a chronic source of stress like a pandemic. Implications for the counseling profession are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to alter daily life and its long-term impact remains unknown, research is needed to examine the effects of this unprecedented pandemic on public health and well-being. Leisure has the potential to facilitate personal growth and to serve as a vehicle for personal transformation under stressful circumstances. The purpose of the study is two-fold: (1) to explore leisure experiences and participation during the COVID-19 global pandemic; and (2) to examine how leisure experiences and participation contribute to stress-related growth during this public health crisis. A total of 470 U.S. residents completed an online survey in July 2020. The results indicated a decline in participation for all types of leisure activities. Changes in leisure activities varied by age and income but social activities had the most substantial decline, followed by outdoor and physical activities. Leisure needs, satisfaction, and social activities were statistically significant predictors of stress-related growth during the pandemic. These findings provide further understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted engagement in leisure activities, and additional evidence that participating in leisure can facilitate personal growth during periods of adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood is a key developmental period for important physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. It can serve as a foundation for behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes that carry into adulthood. In terms of outdoor recreation, existing literature denotes many childhood benefits and finds that children who participate in outdoor activities are likely to continue participation into adulthood. This paper uses an ecological perspective to broaden the exploration of childhood factors that contribute to youth participation in outdoor recreation, including interpersonal, community, and societal factors. Of particular importance are parental and family factors, suggesting that outdoor recreation professionals focus on family programming to foster sustainable participation. Adopting an ecological perspective also emphasizes the importance of creating community partnerships, supportive environments, and inclusive programming for diverse children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used an innovative data set involving audio-recorded conversations between abusers and victims to explore the interactional patterns that occur within violent relationships, following severe violence and the abuser’s detainment. Using micro-level conversational data, our analysis sequenced the hopes/desires that victims and abusers expressed around their expectations for continuing or discontinuing a connection with each other. Conversations commonly included an expressed statement to end the relationship. Although it was common for both victims and abusers to express hope of ending the relationship, victims were most likely to initiate this desire. In response, abusers used multiple strategies to regain connection, including 1) challenging the victim, 2) declaring love or a desire to continue the relationship, 3) appealing for sympathy or help from the victim, and 4) mirroring or accepting the victim’s desire to end the relationship (when other strategies were unsuccessful). Abusers’ responses served to cultivate additional conflict in the relationship while at the same time maintained communication and facilitated relationship recovery following threats of dissolution. These findings contribute to an increased theoretical understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence in the sensitive period involving the couple’s physical separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]