Family Leisure and Emerging Adults' Well‐Being: The Mediating Role of Family Cohesion

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective This study examined whether family cohesion and family adaptability mediate the associations between core (i.e., everyday, inexpensive, home‐based) and balance (i.e., less common, novel) family leisure activities and emerging adults' well‐being, as indicated by positive affect, negative affect, self‐concept clarity, and meaning in life. Background Previous research has linked engagement in family leisure activities to positive family interactions and greater individual well‐being among adolescents. The purpose of this study is to assess whether engagement in family leisure activities prior to college attendance relates to female students' well‐being. Method Participants ( n = 173) completed a Qualtrics survey which included measures related to involvement in family leisure activities in the year prior to college, family dynamics, and individual well‐being. Correlations and path analysis models were conducted. Results Family cohesion mediated the associations between core leisure activities and emerging adults' negative affect, self‐concept clarity, and meaning in life. Family adaptability did not mediate the links between family leisure activities and well‐being. Balance family leisure activities were only directly linked to individuals' greater meaning in life. Conclusion Findings underscore the key role that family leisure activities–especially core activities–and family cohesion play with respect to emerging adults' well‐being and show that more engagement in core family leisure activities is associated with greater family cohesion which, in turn, relates to less negative affect as well as greater self‐concept clarity and meaning in life among college‐aged women. Implications Results from this study could enhance intervention efforts aimed at increasing family cohesion and individual well‐being.