At the National Recreation and Park Association Conference held in Minneapolis last fall, an innovative and exciting discussion took place. Park and recreation researchers and practitioners met to discuss pressing social problems, develop possible solutions, and examine successful programs already in existence.

One of these problems was that of unemployment and the impact of leisure and recreation on it. Whether your agency currently serves numerous unemployed people or not, forecasters indicate that periods of unemployment, multiple career changes, corporate downsizing, job searches and poverty will impact lives of many Americans in the future.

MAJOR RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS
A number of major research conclusions were established at the conference as well as field applications, or impact, and questions were explored that yet remain to be answered. Overall, there were 10 major research conclusions drawn from North American and European studies with unemployed persons. They are as follows:

1. Recreation Participation Rates Decline
U.S. adults who are not employed participate at lower than expected rates (based on their percentage of the total population) for all physical, educational, and arts related activities surveyed. Post-layoff participation in organized recreation declined at least slightly in 33 of 41 activities studied. Participation dropped further as length of unemployment increased and participation in "expensive" activities declined the most, but participation in "free" activities also decreased. Likewise, unemployed Canadians reported overall recreation participation declined in nine of nine activity categories. The greatest decline/highest percentage of discontinuance was in travel and sports/entertainment. Unemployment tended to reduce unemployed people's ranges of recreational activities and their levels of leisure spending.

Impact
Parks and recreation agencies should do needs analysis surveys that request sufficient confidential information from their clients. Asking specifically if they, or members of their family, are temporarily out of work, seeking employment, or underemployed and for what period of time is helpful. Individuals experiencing seasonal layoffs may be less affected than those with structural employment. Free or inexpensive activities should be available for the individuals, and well publicized. If this is not possible, a sliding pay scale at your facility is in order at off-hour times of the day.

2. Unemployed Populations are Diverse
The unemployed are not a single target group, nor are they evenly distributed among all segments of the population. The unemployed exhibit considerable socio-demographic and geographic diversity.

Impact
Here, again, needs surveys are important. Take nothing for granted and do not assume that top-down activity selection or times will work. Ask the unemployed population what they think is best and will work.

3. Age is an Important Variable
Unemployed youth in the U.S. reported generally high levels of leisure and life satisfaction. Respondents felt best about themselves when involved in interactive activities and worst about themselves when uninvolved or alone. However, over 80% of unemployed adolescents (not in school) viewed unemployment as an unpleasant and unsatisfactory situation—an or- deal.

Impact
Unemployed persons who are young are not all the same. Unemployment affects people differently. Numerous sport provisions for the unemployed have failed in Britain due to the failure to appreciate this fact. Programs that offer activities leading to social interaction, co-ed participation, skill acquisition and potential job opportunities, such as instructors, camp counselors, referees and coaches, are valuable.

4. Gender and Ethnicity are Important Variables
Unemployment disproportionately affects women.African- American and Hispanic-American populations in comparison with other socio-demographic groups. Unemployed women had less free time and less active leisure lifestyles than did un

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employed men. Unemployed Hispanic-American females participated in more public recreation programs than did unemployed African-American females. Family structure and residence type also appeared to shape participation patterns. Unemployed males participated in more leisure activities than did unemployed females, and males were more likely than females to report that recreational activities helped cope with the negative effects of unemployment. Parks were a primary location for children's play, the gathering of young mothers caring for children, swimming, fitness activity, crafts and hobbies.

Impact
Advertising is important. Traditionally under-served populations may feel that recreation programs do not meet their needs (monocultural), are inconvenient (no child care), are stereo- typic, and too expensive. Mass mailings to homes, housing developments, churches and schools, or publishing activities and fees in local neighborhood newspapers with pictures of clients having fun are necessary. Family activities should be encouraged as well as innovative cultural and mixed-sex events that de-emphasize competition aimed only for young men. Special programs for preschool children need to be supported. These programs would allow women with child care responsibilities to not only involve their families, but would free them to concurrently attend classes. These chances to meet safely and enjoyably with friends should be promoted at your park site.

5. Stages of Unemployment are Identifiable and Meaningful
Four identifiable stages of unemployment were apparent:

1) Shock

2) Active job search

3) Pessimism, anxiety and distress

4) Fatalism or "broken" attitude

Unemployment can, and in present-day industrial societies, often does lead to deterioration in physical and mental health. Perceived leisure needs of respondents varied with length of unemployment.

Impact
First is the concept of acceptance and support. Unemployed individuals need to know that they are not being judged by the leisure providers with whom they interact. Rapport is crucial. Understanding the anger, hurt, frustration, sense of loss and status is also necessary. Second, by focusing on the total individual, the opportunity exists to collect and share information on a leisure interest scale. A holistic approach to leisure decision making is then facilitated by the leisure provider. Education for various cultural or physical activities and their availability, at your existing community or leisure service agency, is then possible.

6. Leisure Activity May Erase the Effects of Unemployment
Leisure activities offer independent physical and psychological benefits. As a result, if and when such activities are sustained or developed despite unemployment, the otherwise detrimental effects of joblessness are reduced. Respondents felt best about themselves when involved with interaction with people who cared about them and worst when uninvolved or alone. Modem people have deep-seated needs for structuring their time use and perspective, for enlarging social horizons, for participating in collective activities where they feel useful, for knowing they have a recognized place in society, and for being active. Meaningful categories of experience normally provided by employment are often missing among the unemployed, and so many unemployed people struggle to ward off feelings of boredom and isolation. Leisure programs for the unemployed should not be limited to the leftover periods of relatively unorganized activity. It must be serious and structured so that people may develop their potential and feel that they are contributing to society.

Impact
Unemployed people with strong work ethic and work involvement are more likely to seek out, and benefit from, leisure participation. The nature of the activity had little bearing on the experience of that activity with respect to intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation was positively associated with subjective well-being. Since sport participation declined among unemployed respondents who were unable to secure stabilizing factors in their non-work roles, these opportunities should be encouraged. Needs for approval and affiliation can be obtained through team, league or group activity. Leisure rarely acts as a complete functional alternative to employment and may not normally resolve all the problems associated with unemployment. Therefore, leisure cannot be seen as a complete replacement for work yet may have an important role to play in the lives of the unemployed. Leisure providers can facilitate the selection of rewarding leisure choices that are not based on the concept of leisure being reward for work. Activities which help to structure time should be offered during the day when the unemployed find it most difficult to occupy time meaningfully and also to continue activities they were doing before becoming unemployed.

7. Some Leisure and Social Settings are More Effective than Others for Erasing Effects of Unemployment (for mitigating negative effects of unemployment)
Goal-oriented community activities, volunteer work, classroom training, and hobby activity produced positive effects for most respondents. Family relationships produced both positive and negative outcomes. Most unemployed individuals tended toward introspection and withdrawal from the social world. Those who coped best over the long term had good support networks whereas dedication to sport may be uniquely capable of maintaining well-being during unemployment. Unfortunately, recreation agencies in the U.S. make few policy distinctions for access based on the unemployed. Fees aren't generally reduced for those in temporary need.

Impact
Emphasis on the above activities and pursuits is paramount. Action from leisure providers includes informed leisure participation, enjoyment and modification were needed. Above all, leisure should not be seen as remedial in nature but as a real source of meaning and satisfaction.

8. Little is Known about the Daily Leisure Activity of Unemployed People
Active leisure comprised one hour per day in the schedules of unemployed respondents in Britain. Remaining free

44 • Illinois Parks & Recreation* May/June 1995

time was primarily spent at home. However, not much is known about the day-to-day schedules of the unemployed in the U.S.

Impact
Identifying psychological needs that were provided by unemployment may now be partially satisfied by leisure. Regularly meeting leisure activities in a park, school, or community center may offer a formal setting for the need for structure. Regular walking, exercising or reading may be an informal means of creating a day-to-day schedule.

9. Unemployment is not Necessarily a Negative Experience
Unemployed youth are not a homogenous "sad and mad" group. Some value and constructively use blocks of free time. Unemployed African-American and Hispanic-American youth reported generally high levels of leisure and life satisfaction. For some unemployed people, meaningful activity is not synonymous with work. Unemployment is not necessarily a negative experience, and those who cope well tend to have high activity participation levels and an ability to structure time.

Impact
The selection of leisure choices should not be based on the concept of leisure as a reward for employment. Emphasis on lifelong activities such as fitness, tennis, golf, swimming and hobbies is important. Minimize constraints wherever possible. Programs that will give individuals a better chance to compete for jobs or enter programs of training and education, i.e. GED, ESL classes, may lead to full or part-time job opportunities as leisure and physical educators, recreation leaders and/or officials.

10. Response of Leisure and Recreation Professionals to Unemployment has been Slow to Non-Existent
Most unemployment/leisure research has occurred in Europe. Only one percent of recreation agencies serving large U.S. cities offer recreation programs specifically for unemployed residents. Fewer than half of the agencies offer price discounts for unemployed residents.

Impact
This bleak support by leisure service agencies must change. There are too few successful stories of progressive programs that provide for the leisure needs of persons without a job. Some of the activities done well by park district personnel for the retired elderly may be modified for the unemployed individual, i.e. inexpensive day bus trips, volunteer programs, music and art classes, etc.

REMAINING UNANSWERED ISSUES
1. Supply side issues remain problematic. Most organized recreation agencies have not acknowledged the need to segment unemployed clients from broader groups of potential participants (e.g., low income residents). In addition, communities with high unemployment rates often cannot afford expanded recreation program offerings given accompanying budget constraints. Research is needed to better understand how to address these conflicting issues.

2. One intervention that has the potential for helping the unemployed to develop constructive coping skills is leisure counseling. The therapeutic benefits of recreation remain to be explored.

3. Little is known about the extent to which leisure sustains and improves levels of leisure and life satisfaction (i.e. self-development resulting in feelings of confidence, recognition and social belonging).

4. The need for further research (sampling diverse unemployed populations in diverse geographic locations), longitudinal studies of the unemployed and studies of access to leisure services for the unemployed are necessary.

5. The unemployment problem compounded by school leaving, early parenthood, and the lure of drugs and their economic rewards seems overwhelming. The use of qualitative and quantitative methods of research with the unemployed to provide an accurate assessment of how leisure behavior and attitudes change over time is strongly recommended.

6. Women are different. Continued research is necessary to determine how they can be reached through comprehensive leisure counseling measures which offer encouragement through programs geared to getting them out of home- based existences and into affordable, fulfilling leisure lifestyles.

7. Continued research to explain the variables of gender, race/ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, geographic location, etc., as they impact leisure participation, expenditure, satisfaction, services and family leisure is important.

8. Research is needed to explore interagency and agency-business cooperative arrangements, utilized to nonexistent with respect to programs for the unemployed.

9. Controlled field experiments should be conducted in order to assess the merits of programs targeted to unemployed clients. Field experiments should be conducted both within and between cities. The field experiments could measure variables as diverse as behavior, attitudes, life satisfaction, and self- esteem.

CONCLUSION
Social problems can be solved where there is action, hope and a willingness to do the right thing. Leisure professionals can serve as leaders in the community action movement to recognize the effects of under- and unemployment and possible solutions through recreation. Recognizing these issues can represent an important first step!

* References for this article are available upon request from the authors.

Lisa C. Pesavento Raymond is a Professor and Chairperson for the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Chicago State University. She formerly served as Interim Deputy Superintendent of the Chicago Park District.

Mark E. Havitz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo-Canada. He was formerly employed with the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the Special Facilities Division of the Department of Parks and Recreation.*

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