Hillel Ruskin

Sport participation vs. sport spectatorship: two modes of leisure behavior.

ABSTRACTThe study examines and compares participation in sports during leisure time on the one hand and spectatorship and interest in sport as a leisure pursuit on the other hand. The examination c...

The effect of physical training on objective and subjective measures of productivity and efficiency in industry

Five hundred and twenty-two workers from two pharmaceutical factories were randomly assigned to two groups. The first group was exposed to a physical activity programme, 15min each session before lunch, 5 times a week for 7 months. Concurrently, the second group of workers had the same exposure to social activity. Perceived workload, fatigue, and efficiency, as well as rates of productivity were examined before and at the end of the study. Repeated Measures ANOVA was applied to the data. The results indicated that, from the outset to the end of the programmes productivity rates remained constant across the whole study in both groups. However, perceptions of workload increased, and perceptions of fatigue decreased significantly in workers of the physical activity group compared to their counter-parts. Subsequently, perceived efficiency increased more in the workers in the physical activity group compared to workers of the social activity group, particularly after lunchtime.

Sex differences in recreational sport behaviour and attitudes: a study of married couples in Israel.

The aim of the study was to contrast male and female behaviour and attitudes in the recreational sport domain and to explore some of the antecedents of revealed sex differences. The subjects were 184 married couples in Israel. Marked differences in the rate of recreational sport participation between husbands and wives were revealed particularly in sports that involve competition. The womans number of social roles was not related to her rate of participation. The spouses influence was found to be of relatively small importance. Marked differences in the meaning of recreational sport between the sexes were revealed. The overall picture presented by the findings indicates that sex differences in this area are more strongly related to deep-rooted socialization effects than to current structural constraints.

Determinants of Participation Disposition in Leisure Among Hong Kong School Students

Abstract The present paper investigates the contribution of several key variables to the inclination of adolescents to participate in leisure in the future, a variable which is coined here as participation disposition or (PD). This variable is distinguished from the commonly used variable leisure participation which is based on participation frequencies in past activities. By subjecting data collected from 7570 students attending primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to analyses with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the relative strengths of Leisure Satisfaction, Leisure Attitude, Leisure Participation and Perceived Well-being in predicting participation disposition (PD) was established. In addition, results of the study indicate the relative contributions of Leisure Satisfaction, Leisure Attitude and Leisure Participation to Perceived Well-being of adolescents. The study suggests a holistic model which indicates the potential contribution of participation disposition to other variables related to leisure and well-being of people. Recommendations are made to investigate this model on a longitudinal basis.

MOTIVATION AS A FACTOR AFFECTING MALES PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING LEISURE TIME

ABSTRACT In this paper, the authors present part of the results of an extensive study which attempted to identify factors affecting or related to physical activity during leisure time. The main aim of this part of the study was to pinpoint motivational factors which influence adult males to participate in physical activity. 482 males, mean age 29, participated in the study, and were presented a list of 33 sport activities. Two indicators of the degree of physical activity which served as dependent variables, were the extent and the level of physical activity. The subject of motivation for participation in physical activity during leisure time was approached from two main viewpoints: that which identifies main dimensions of attitude and that which is based on the Expectancy-Valence Theory. The findings show that the most important motivational factors regarding the population in this study are 1) physical activity as supplying tension and excitement which stems from fast movement, changes in direction of m...