It is more than fun and making friends: Social leisure and leisure experiences of Taiwanese urban women

Abstract Most studies on Taiwanese women’s leisure life mainly focus on lifestyle and leisure behaviors that fail to discuss the symbolic meanings or meaning-making process of participating in social leisure activities. This study applies the social exchange framework to examine the social leisure activities of Taiwanese urban women from two aspects: the meaning making of social leisure to them, and what they can attain through social leisure participation. The study found that Taiwanese urban women participating in social leisure activities are driven by extrinsic and intrinsic motivations. Social leisure activities are not only the settings for leisure but also the settings for expanding social relations and networks, in which leisure activities are primarily emotional and social in nature. Results show that to sustain positive effects of satisfaction and happiness from participating in social leisure, positive emotion and commitment matter to gain gratification through participating in social leisure activities.