Family Leisure Among Families With Child in Mental Health Treatment: Therapeutic Recreation Implications

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of family leisure involvement to family functioning among families with youth in mental health treatment. The secondary purpose was to compare family functioning and family leisure involvement between treatment families and a sample of normative families. The treatment family sample consisted of 181 participants. Data were analyzed from the parent and youth perspectives. The Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to determine family leisure involvement. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES II ) was used to measure family functioning. Blocked multiple regression analyses indicated a positive relationship between family leisure variables and family functioning. Specifically, in the parent data, both core and balance leisure patterns were significant predictors of family functioning, yet from the youth perspective only core leisure involvement was significantly related to family functioning. Recommendations for future research and implications for therapeutic recreation practice are discussed.