Leisure Time Activities Questionnaire [LTAQ-15]

Instrument Description

The Leisure Time Activities Questionnaire (LTAQ-15) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess patterns of leisure-time participation and the relationship between recreational activities, psychological well-being, and emotional functioning.

The questionnaire examines not only the types of activities individuals engage in during their free time but also the frequency of participation, satisfaction obtained from activities, and perceived reduction of psychological tension.

Through this multidimensional approach, the LTAQ-15 provides a broader understanding of how leisure activities contribute to:

• relaxation;
• emotional regulation;
• life satisfaction;
• social participation;
• overall psychological well-being.

The instrument was originally developed by H. A. Fitts and M. C. Howe, while the Greek adaptation has been attributed to I. Tzonichaki and G. Kleftaras.

Theoretical Background

The LTAQ-15 is based on the theoretical perspective that leisure activities represent important resources for psychological recovery and adaptation.

Leisure participation is considered a multidimensional experience, where the psychological value of an activity is not determined solely by its frequency. An activity may occur rarely but provide significant satisfaction, while another may occur frequently without producing meaningful relaxation.

Therefore, the LTAQ-15 evaluates three important aspects of leisure experience:

• participation frequency;
• subjective satisfaction;
• stress reduction or relaxation benefits.

This approach allows researchers to investigate how leisure activities contribute to emotional balance and quality of life.

Objective

The primary objective of the LTAQ-15 is to evaluate how individuals use their leisure time and how leisure activities are associated with psychological well-being.

Specifically, the questionnaire aims to:

Assessment of Leisure Activities

Identify the types and frequency of activities performed during free time.

Evaluation of Psychological Benefits

Examine whether leisure activities contribute to:

• enjoyment;
• relaxation;
• reduction of stress;
• emotional improvement.

Investigation of Health Relationships

Explore associations between leisure participation and variables such as:

• depression;
• quality of life;
• functional ability;
• social involvement;
• life satisfaction.

Research and Intervention Planning

Provide information useful for designing interventions that promote active lifestyles, social participation, and psychological well-being.

Structure and Characteristics

The LTAQ-15 consists of 15 leisure activity items representing different categories of recreational participation.

The activities include areas such as:

• relaxation activities;
• physical activities;
• social activities;
• recreational and enjoyable activities.

The original instrument was developed in the United States to examine leisure-time utilization among individuals with cardiac problems.

The Greek adaptation was conducted in a sample of 107 older adults, aged 65–85 years, with a mean age of approximately 72 years.

The sample included:

• 62 men;
• 45 women;

from senior community centers and friendship clubs in the wider Athens region.

The adaptation procedure included:

• translation from English into Greek;
• back-translation;
• linguistic and cultural adaptation by bilingual psychologists.

Administration and Scoring

The LTAQ-15 evaluates each activity through multiple dimensions.

Frequency of Participation

Participants report how often each activity was performed during the previous seven days.

Satisfaction Evaluation

Participants rate the satisfaction obtained from each activity using a five-point scale:

0 – Not at all
1 – Slightly
2 – Moderately
3 – Very much
4 – Extremely much

Stress Reduction Evaluation

Participants indicate the degree to which each activity contributes to relaxation and reduction of tension.

Possible scoring indicators include:

• mean participation frequency;
• mean satisfaction score;
• mean relaxation/stress-reduction score;
• positive reinforcement index combining participation frequency and psychological benefit.

Scores may be calculated for individual activity categories and for overall leisure activity engagement.

Data Analysis

Analysis of LTAQ-15 data may include:

Descriptive Statistics

Calculation of:

• means;
• standard deviations;
• frequencies;
• distribution of leisure activity patterns.

These analyses describe how individuals participate in leisure activities.

Correlation Analysis

Relationships may be examined between leisure activity indicators and:

• depressive symptoms;
• life satisfaction;
• quality of life;
• functional status;
• social participation.

Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients may be used depending on the characteristics of the data.

Comparative Analysis

Differences between groups may be investigated using:

• Student’s t-test;
• ANOVA.

Possible comparisons include:

• age groups;
• gender groups;
• health conditions;
• functional ability levels.

Regression Analysis

Advanced analyses may examine whether leisure participation predicts:

• psychological well-being;
• life satisfaction;
• emotional adjustment.

Psychometric Properties

The Greek adaptation of the LTAQ-15 included factor analysis using Varimax orthogonal rotation, identifying factors corresponding to the main dimensions of leisure activity.

Modern psychometric evaluation may include:

Reliability Assessment

Internal consistency may be examined through:

• Cronbach’s alpha (α);
• McDonald’s omega (ω).

Validity Assessment

Structural validity may be examined using:

• Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA);
• Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

These analyses are particularly useful when applying the instrument to different age groups or cultural populations.

Applications

The LTAQ-15 can be applied in:

Quality of Life Research

For examining how leisure participation contributes to life satisfaction and psychological health.

Aging Research

For studying the relationship between leisure engagement, social participation, and healthy aging.

Mental Health Research

For investigating associations between leisure activities and:

• depressive symptoms;
• emotional well-being;
• stress management.

Occupational Therapy

For assessing meaningful activities and supporting interventions aimed at improving participation and independence.

The LTAQ-15 is not a diagnostic instrument. It evaluates patterns of leisure participation and the subjective benefits derived from activities. Interpretation should consider the individual’s age, health status, functional ability, and broader psychosocial context.

References

Fitts, H. A., & Howe, M. C. (1987). Use of leisure time by cardiac patients. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 41, 583–589.

Tzonichaki, I., Kleftaras, G., & Malikiosi-Loizos, M. (2004a). Level of functioning, leisure time activities and symptoms of depression in the elderly. Paper presented at the 7th European Congress of Occupational Therapy, Athens.

Tzonichaki, I., Kleftaras, G., & Malikiosi-Loizos, M. (2004b). Quality of life as determined by life satisfaction, level of functioning and free time activities and its relationship to later life depressive symptomatology. Paper presented at the 1st International Conference of the Psychological Society of Northern Greece: Quality of Life and Psychology, Thessaloniki.