Leisure and its role as a strategy for coping with work stress

The purpose of this study was to determine the dimensions of leisure that w ere important to people coping with work-related stress. Data were provided by 695 principals and deputy principals from secondary schools throughout New Zealand who were experiencing major legislative and organizational chan ge in the education sector The results produced a robust, replicable, and r eliable two-factor structure using FACTOREP, a factor replication procedure . It appears that leisure is best measured in terms of active-challenge and passive-recuperative dimensions when considered in relation to coping with work-related stress. The results show that for the present occupational gr oup, the passive nature of leisure is more important for coping with work s tress. These results have implications for those involved in workplace heal th promotion where the emphasis thus far has been on physical activity and fitness, The results also confirm the importance of determining the most ap propriate number of factors to rotate.