The Relationships between Leisure Time, Perceived Stress and Subjective Well-Being in Young and Middle-Aged Working Adults in China

Previous studies have documented the correlations between leisure time, perceived stress, and subjective well-being (SWB), yet the extent to which the amount of leisure time impacts the effect of perceived stress on SWB has rarely been studied. The current study focuses on this under researched topic among young and middle-aged working adults in the Chinese context. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that perceived stress had a negative correlation with SWB. Engagement in active leisure time activities contributed to SWB. Leisure time spent playing sports significantly impacted the effect of perceived stress on SWB in the young and middle-aged groups. The study contributes to the identification of the complicated interactive relationships among leisure time, perceived stress, and SWB based on empirical evidence and has implications for the design of intervention strategies to promote quality of life in China.