Recreation and Leisure Studies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/handle/10012/9898

This is the collection for the University of Waterloo's Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies.

Research outputs are organized by type (eg. Master Thesis, Article, Conference Paper).

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Browsing Recreation and Leisure Studies by Author "Glover, Troy"

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    Older Adults Experiencing Social Isolation and Loneliness During Covid-19: Resilience Through Leisure
    (University of Waterloo, 2024-08-28) Atabakhsh, Victoria; Glover, Troy
    The purpose of this dissertation was to understand the role of leisure as a resilience strategy to combat social isolation and loneliness among older adult women who lived alone in Kitchener-Waterloo during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was guided by the following research questions: (1) how did public health restrictions affect older adults during the pandemic; (2) what does resilience mean to older adults and what resilience strategies did they use to stay socially connected during the pandemic; and (3) what role, if any, did leisure play as a resilience strategy in addressing the threats of social isolation and loneliness during COVID-19? The research approach that was taken was a narrative inquiry using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews held over the phone to collect data from participants. Many participants experienced heightened feelings of social isolation and loneliness due to physical distancing measures and government mandates (i.e., stay-at-home orders) (Lee et al., 2020). Older adults, particularly those living alone, were at higher risk of experiencing social isolation and loneliness due to restrictions on gatherings, physical distancing measures, and concerns about their health and safety (CDC, 2020). The closure of community centres and other social venues further limited opportunities for participants to engage in activities and connect with others. Many relied on regular social interactions for companionship, emotional support, and a sense of belonging, all of which were disrupted by the pandemic. This research shows that extraverts and introverts had contrasting experiences during the pandemic due to their differing social needs and preferences. While both extraverts and introverts faced challenges during the pandemic, their experiences were shaped by their distinct social preferences and coping mechanisms. Extraverts struggled with reduced social interaction, while introverts navigated a balance between solitude and the need for connection. Similarly, both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals navigated unique challenges and considerations throughout the pandemic based on their vaccination status and individual circumstances. Unvaccinated participants expressed experiencing more judgement, shunning, and ostracism than vaccinated participants. Every participant, regardless of extraversion, introversion, or vaccination status, demonstrated resilience. Using technology to stay connected during a time where face-to-face interactions were near impossible, older adult women exercised their resilience to make it through the pandemic. Older adult women demonstrated remarkable resilience during the pandemic by employing various leisure strategies to mitigate social isolation and loneliness. Through findings, 5 dimensions of resilience arose encompassing what resilience meant to participants. The dimensions included acceptance, perseverance, adapation, perspective and, and positivity. Further, three major themes of how leisure was exercised to stay resilient arose, which included using leisure to stay connected, to stay distracted, and to stay active. By engaging in leisure, older adult women not only exercised their resilience and coped with social isolation and loneliness but also demonstrated resilience.
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    A war between stories: Leisure, colonialism and my struggles to reconcile my Indigeneity
    (University of Waterloo, 2018-11-15) Henhawk, Daniel; Glover, Troy
    This dissertation is concerned with oppression and “the reach of imperialism into our heads” (Smith, 2012, p. 63). It is concerned with the “war between stories” (Delgado, 2012, p.2419) between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples and thus the narrative character and the narrative space of such struggles. The purpose of this dissertation is two-fold. Firstly, to expose the tensions of oppression that surround leisure, sport and recreation in the Six Nations of the Grand River community through an Indigenous critique of the stories and narratives of three community leaders in the Six Nations community. The subsequent purpose is to convey the struggles I’ve experienced, as an Indigenous person, moving through this research process, struggling to understand my Indigeneity and the connection between notions of Indigeneity and leisure. Grande (2004) puts forward the critique that “unless the relationship between culture and the socioeconomic conditions within which it is produced is recognized, the so-called at-risk conditions common to peoples living under siege will persist” (p.19). She argues for an educational reform that must happen concurrently with an analysis of colonialism and the material reality that perpetuates it. To honour her call, it is thus imperative to gain an understanding of how leisure is connected to ongoing colonialism and the perpetuation of a material reality that has far-reaching consequences for how we perceive and understand the world. To do this, it is my contention that stories are central to understanding the connections between leisure and ongoing neo-colonialism as well as how we make sense of the role within Indigenous lives and struggles for decolonization, Indigenization, sovereignty, and self-determination.
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    Whose Lane is it Anyway? The Negligence Towards Cyclists within in a Mid-sized City
    (University of Waterloo, 2017-05-10) Mayers, Rebecca; Glover, Troy; Filion, Pierre; Mair, Heather
    Urban cycling has been gaining momentum for decades, yet the need to upgrade infrastructure to accommodate cycling has never been greater. Urban development in North America continues to privilege car usage, despite growing threats of climate change and resource depletion. To better adapt to these challenges, cities are responding by encouraging alternate modes of transportation through bike-friendly design and planning which reduces an individual’s carbon footprint. Nevertheless, the politics of approving such initiatives remain contentious, even though evidence reveals bikeable cities are beneficial in a variety of ways. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to expose how seemingly bike-friendly policies serves to disadvantage urban cyclists and further privilege car culture. Concentrating on cyclists’ experiences in the Region of Waterloo, this study engaged with local cyclists directly to understand how regional initiatives and policies aimed at improving cycling left cyclists feeling devalued and under-resourced. Informed by a critical urban lens, this qualitative study collected 16 participants stories through semi-structured interviews to address the following research questions: How do cyclists experience so-called bike-friendly policies and infrastructure in the Region of Waterloo?; how do cyclists’ lived experiences reflect their right to the city?; and (3) how do bike-friendly policies and infrastructure privilege car culture? Five themes were identified from the data collected and consist of: (1) identification as a cyclist; (2) rationale for riding; (3) riding in a car-centric city; (4) lived experience with so called “bicycle-friendly” infrastructure and (5) the representation of politics of Waterloo cycling. The discussion of findings prompted five themes to help better synthesize cyclists’ experiences: Identity, tangibilize the intangible, build it well and they will come, (4) keeping up with the culture shift, and changing minds to changing modes. This research brings to light narratives from cyclists lives that provoke further research on the topic of cycling to broadening our understanding and how to influence positive change through practice.