Leisure and wellbeing.

The aim of this special issue is to encourage critical theoretical and methodological reflection on the broad topic of leisure and wellbeing. Haworth ([27]) emphasised that while the relationship between leisure and positive or optimal experience was already an established field of enquiry, there had been little opportunity for debate about linking such research and policy agendas focused on the concept of wellbeing. Our contributors discuss issues connected to subjective wellbeing in leisure policy and practice, focusing on themes such as identity, leisure, happiness, spirituality, difference, and cultural diversity in the leisure sphere. The authors propose that adventure satisfies multiple and overlapping psychological needs for autonomy, competence, relatedness and beneficence, and the significance of this type of meaning-making has policy and practice implications beyond adventure recreation for schooling, public health and urban and rural planning. [Extracted from the article]