Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Publication Title

Journal of Leisure Research

Volume

43

Issue

3

First Page

383

Keywords

Casual leisure; continuum; identity; motives; serious leisure

Last Page

402

Abstract

The dichotomy of serious leisure (SL) and casual leisure (CL) has significant limitations, leaving some leisure experiences unexplained. The SL-CL continuum proposed by Shen and Yarnal (2010) aims at filling this gap by providing a description based on behavioral commitment. We present evidence supporting the SL-CL continuum obtained by comparing participants in two different types of sporting events: an international/major and a national/minor event. Quantitative data on leisure motives and identity, corresponding to four SL and two CL characteristics, were collected from self-administered questionnaires. Both samples reported moderate to high intensities across the characteristics. However, international/major participants were more serious and national/minor participants more casual in their leisure experience. Participants were not effectively described in terms of the SL-CL dichotomy.

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