Rural Community Leaders’ Perceptions of Healthy Leisure: Resources, Needs and Constraints

Chronic diseases are prevalent and costly health problems that affect children and adults of all ages. Additionally, rural communities are more likely to have chronic diseases due to lack of physical activity and poor diet. Promoting healthy leisure lifestyles through low-cost, community programs can help improve health and wellbeing. However, community participation is necessary to effect sustainable community change. The purpose of this study was to understand how community leaders in a rural town viewed resources, needs and constraints associated with leisure-based self-care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 community leaders from diverse organizations in an impoverished, racially diverse rural community. Resources identified included leisure programs for youth and adults, an outdoor track open for public use, and free lunchtime meals for seniors. Needs identified included educational programs on healthy eating and/or physical activity, chronic illness prevention, and leisure alternatives to crime, drugs and teenage pregnancy for youth. Constraints included lack of resources and infrastructure, inaccessible and unaffordable facilities/sites, lack of low-cost leisure, and lack of culturally sensitive programs. We discuss our findings in relation to previous research and in regard to future steps toward implementing a healthy recreation program in the community.