{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,26]],"date-time":"2026-10-26T18:40:03Z","timestamp":1793040003578,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,2]],"date-time":"2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743552000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Researchers extensively employed recreation specialization as a dependent variable or classification tool for investigating the relationship between leisure activities and sociological variables. This study challenged the conventional understanding by suggesting recreation specialization was more likely to be positively associated with leisure satisfaction through place dependence and place identity.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A total of 570 questionnaire responses were collected from participants engaged in long-distance running at West Lake. JASP 0.18.3.0 software was used to examine all hypotheses in the conceptual model.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The findings provided support for the following: (1) Recreation specialization directly and positively influenced place dependence, place identity, and life satisfaction; (2) Place dependence was positively related to place identity, while both place dependence and place identity were positively associated with individuals\u2019 life satisfaction; (3) Place dependence and place identity mediated the impact of recreation specialization on life satisfaction, with place dependence partially explaining this mediation effect through place identity.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>These findings concluded with practical and academic implications of the study. Future research should also explore the underlying mechanisms linking recreation specialization and life satisfaction.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1543861","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,2]],"date-time":"2025-04-02T05:40:43Z","timestamp":1743572443000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Recreation specialization and leisure satisfaction among long-distance running: an examination of the mediating role of place dependence and place identity"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Xing","family":"Huo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Haibo","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhipeng","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiao","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhifeng","family":"Tang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s11205-013-0268-0","article-title":"Contribution of perceived freedom and leisure satisfaction to life satisfaction in a sample of Turkish women","volume":"116","author":"Agyar","year":"2014","journal-title":"Soc. Indic. Res."},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1080\/01490400.2013.780543","article-title":"Beyond progression in specialization research: leisure capital and participation change","volume":"35","author":"Backlund","year":"2013","journal-title":"Leisure Sci."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.1980.11969416","article-title":"Measuring leisure satisfaction","volume":"12","author":"Beard","year":"1980","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.1007\/s12134-021-00917-y","article-title":"Leisure as a space for inclusion and the improvement of life satisfaction of immigrants","volume":"24","author":"Berasategi Sancho","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Int. Migr. Integr."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1080\/01490409950202285","article-title":"Level of specialization and place attachment: an exploratory study of whitewater recreationists","volume":"22","author":"Bricker","year":"2000","journal-title":"Leisure Sci."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.1977.11970328","article-title":"Leisure value systems and recreational specialization the case of trout fishermen","volume":"9","author":"Bryan","year":"1977","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.2000.11949879","article-title":"Recreation specialization revisited","volume":"32","author":"Bryan","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"344","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.2001.11949945","article-title":"Reply to David Scott and C. Scott Shafer, \"recreational specialization: a critical look at the construct\"","volume":"33","author":"Bryan","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"178","DOI":"10.5539\/jel.v9n2p178","article-title":"The relationship between park satisfaction, place attachment and revisit intention in neighborhood parks with physical activity facilities","volume":"9","author":"\u00c7evik","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Educ. Learn."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1187","DOI":"10.1007\/s11205-011-9979-2","article-title":"Relationships among adolescents\u2019 leisure motivation, leisure involvement, and leisure satisfaction: A structural equation model","volume":"110","author":"Chen","year":"2013","journal-title":"Soc. Indic. Res."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"549","DOI":"10.1080\/02614367.2015.1031270","article-title":"Old bodies, young hearts: a qualitative exploration of the engagement of older male amateur rugby union players in Taiwan","volume":"35","author":"Cheng","year":"2016","journal-title":"Leisure Stud."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"817","DOI":"10.1080\/09669582.2016.1251445","article-title":"Recreational specialization and ecologically responsible behaviour of Chinese birdwatchers in Hong Kong","volume":"25","author":"Cheung","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Sustain. Tour."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2008.02.011","article-title":"Place attachment and place identity: first-year undergraduates making the transition from home to university","volume":"28","author":"Chow","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Environ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315816364","volume-title":"The serious leisure perspective: An introduction","author":"Elkington","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-0167.51.1.115","article-title":"Testing moderator and mediator effects in counselling psychology","volume":"51","author":"Frazier","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Couns. Psych."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"348","DOI":"10.1080\/01490400.2022.2099493","article-title":"Examining relationships among festival satisfaction, place attachment, emotional experience, and destination loyalty","volume":"47","author":"Gautam","year":"2022","journal-title":"Leisure Sci."},{"key":"ref17","first-page":"137","article-title":"Theory of attachment and place attachment","volume-title":"Psychological theories for environmental issues","author":"Giuliani","year":"2003"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"832","DOI":"10.1007\/s00267-018-1082-x","article-title":"An examination of whitewater boaters\u2019 place attachment and specialization in four different river settings","volume":"62","author":"Kainzinger","year":"2018","journal-title":"Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref19","first-page":"290","article-title":"Consumers' involvement profile: new empirical results","volume":"12","author":"Kapferer","year":"1985","journal-title":"Adv. Consum. Res."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/01490400.2023.2197901","article-title":"Exploring the relationships across recreation specialization, leisure satisfaction, and happiness: the case of Korean hikers","author":"Kim","year":"2023","journal-title":"Leisure Sci."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8128","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18158128","article-title":"Effect of outdoor sports participants on leisure facilitation, recreation specialization, and leisure satisfaction: yacht and golf participants","volume":"18","author":"Kwon","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Env. Res. Pub Health."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.2003.11949993","article-title":"An examination of the relationship between leisure activity involvement and place attachment among hikers along the Appalachian Trail","volume":"35","author":"Kyle","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.2019.1633233","article-title":"Serious leisure is social: things to learn from the social world perspective","volume":"51","author":"Lee","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.2023.2187266","article-title":"Examining the long-term effect of leisure engagement, leisure satisfaction, and perceived discrimination on stress perception among Koreans with physical disabilities","volume":"55","author":"Lee","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"450","DOI":"10.1080\/10871209.2013.812263","article-title":"Empirical linkages between serious leisure and recreational specialization","volume":"18","author":"Lee","year":"2013","journal-title":"Hum. Dimens. Wildl."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4613-4259-5_5","article-title":"Specialization and the varieties of environmental experience","volume-title":"Experiencing the environment","author":"Little","year":"1976"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1037\/1082-989X.1.2.130","article-title":"Power analysis and determination of sample size for covariance structure modeling","volume":"1","author":"MacCallum","year":"1996","journal-title":"Psychol. Methods"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1080\/04419057.2001.9674226","article-title":"The benefits and costs of serious running","volume":"43","author":"Major","year":"2001","journal-title":"World Leisure J."},{"key":"ref29","volume-title":"Motivation and personality","author":"Maslow","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1080\/16078055.2018.1444669","article-title":"Exploring the relationship among leisure engagement, affective and cognitive leisure involvement, and subjective happiness: a mediating role of leisure satisfaction","volume":"60","author":"Matsumoto","year":"2018","journal-title":"World Leisure J."},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1080\/01490409209513153","article-title":"Recreation specialization reexamined: the case of vehicle-based campers","volume":"14","author":"McIntyre","year":"1992","journal-title":"Leisure Sci."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.1989.11969797","article-title":"The personal meaning of participation: enduring involvement","volume":"21","author":"McIntyre","year":"1989","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1080\/01490409409513214","article-title":"Attachments to recreation settings: the case of rail-trail users","volume":"16","author":"Moore","year":"1994","journal-title":"Leisure Sci."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"852","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.89.6.852","article-title":"When moderation is mediated mediation is moderated","volume":"89","author":"Muller","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Pers. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1080\/00222216.2012.11950255","article-title":"Predictive linkages between recreation specialization and place attachment","volume":"44","author":"Oh","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1256","DOI":"10.1080\/17430437.2020.1720655","article-title":"'Why do people commit to long distance running': serious leisure qualities and leisure motivation of marathon runners","volume":"23","author":"Qiu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sport Soc."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1080\/02614369300390051","article-title":"A behavioural model of leisure participation, based on leisure attitude, motivation and satisfaction","volume":"12","author":"Ragheb","year":"1993","journal-title":"Leisure Stud."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"673","DOI":"10.3727\/108354214X14146846679286","article-title":"Proenvironmental behavior: the link between place attachment and place satisfaction","volume":"19","author":"Ramkissoon","year":"2014","journal-title":"Tour. Anal."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2593","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2015.05.002","article-title":"The satisfaction-place attachment relationship: potential mediators and moderators","volume":"68","author":"Ramkissoon","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1080\/02614367.2016.1141977","article-title":"\"China, why not?\": serious leisure and transmigrant runners' stories from Beijing","volume":"36","author":"Ronkainen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Leisure Stud."},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2009.09.006","article-title":"Defining place attachment: a tripartite organizing framework","volume":"30","author":"Scannell","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Environ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2017.04.001","article-title":"The experienced psychological benefits of place attachment","volume":"51","author":"Scannell","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Environ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1177\/1757913910379191","article-title":"Running free: embracing a healthy lifestyle through distance running","volume":"130","author":"Shipway","year":"2010","journal-title":"Perspect Public Health"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1163","DOI":"10.3390\/su10041163","article-title":"Identification and prediction of latent classes of hikers based on specialization and place attachment","volume":"10","author":"Song","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sustain. For."},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.18666\/jlr-2016-v48-i1-7120","article-title":"Costs, constraints, and perseverance:a rejoinder to Lamont, Kennelly, and Moyle","volume":"48","author":"Stebbins","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Leisure Res."},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1080\/17439760.2017.1374444","article-title":"Leisure and the positive psychological states","volume":"13","author":"Stebbins","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Posit. Psychol."},{"key":"ref47","first-page":"145","article-title":"Examining how place dependence and place identity affect behavioral intention of marathon tourists in Taiwan","volume":"12","author":"Su","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Organ Innov."},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1080\/01490400.2020.1790063","article-title":"Personality and subjective well-being among elder adults: examining the mediating role of cycling specialization","volume":"45","author":"Tian","year":"2023","journal-title":"Leisure Sci."},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1006289","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.1006289","article-title":"The mediating role of psychological commitment between recreation specialization and life satisfaction: evidence from Xiamen marathon runners","volume":"13","author":"Tian","year":"","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19010019","article-title":"The impact of cycling specialization on successful aging and the mediating role of loneliness","volume":"19","author":"Tian","year":"","journal-title":"Int. J. Env. Res. Pub. Health"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3243","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19063243","article-title":"The role of recreation specialization and self-efficacy on life satisfaction: the mediating effect of flow experience","volume":"19","author":"Tian","year":"","journal-title":"Int. J. Env. Res. Pub. Health"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1080\/01490400802165115","article-title":"Serious leisure and recreation specialization","volume":"30","author":"Tsaur","year":"2008","journal-title":"Leisure Sci."},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101795","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2022.101795","article-title":"Pathways of place dependence and place identity influencing recycling in the extended theory of planned behavior","volume":"81","author":"Wan","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Environ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chest.2020.03.012","article-title":"Cross-sectional studies: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations","volume":"158","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chest"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1403373","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1403373","article-title":"Serious leisure and successful aging among elderly air volleyball players: examining the mediating role of social support and flow experience","volume":"15","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1692","DOI":"10.3724\/SP.J.1042.2022.01692","article-title":"Methodological research on mediation effects in China\u2019s mainland","volume":"30","author":"Wen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Adv. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"830","DOI":"10.1093\/forestscience\/49.6.830","article-title":"The measurement of place attachment: validity and generalizability of a psychometric approach","volume":"49","author":"Williams","year":"2003","journal-title":"For. Sci."},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.1007\/s00267-020-01292-7","article-title":"Integrating place attachment into management frameworks: exploring place attachment across the recreation opportunity spectrum","volume":"66","author":"Wynveen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5210","DOI":"10.3390\/su13095210","article-title":"Tourists\u2019 motivation, place attachment, satisfaction and support behavior for festivals in the migrant region of China","volume":"13","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sustain. For."},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1123\/japa.2021-0343","article-title":"Promoting active aging through sports participation: a qualitative exploration of serious leisure among older Chinese adults","volume":"31","author":"Zhou","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Aging Phys. Activ."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1543861\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,2]],"date-time":"2025-04-02T05:41:21Z","timestamp":1743572481000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1543861\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,2]]},"references-count":60,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1543861"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1543861","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,2]]},"article-number":"1543861"}}