A Survey of Leisure Activities Engaged in by Adults who are Severely Retarded Living in Different Residence and Community Types

Abstract

Four hundred and thirty six group homes and foster homes rated the frequency with which their residents engage in twenty leisure activities. Significant differences between foster and group home ratings were found for thirteen activities. Group home residents engage in twelve of those activities more often than foster home residents, although some leisure activities appear to be generic across different living and community situations. Study findings can be utilized to help teachers target leisure skills that will have a probability of being expected and reinforced in future environments, and as a baseline for future studies regarding recreational habits in community residences.