Date of Award
1-1-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Health and Kinesiology
First Advisor
Kim R. Beason
Second Advisor
Kofan Lee
Third Advisor
Hyun-Woo D. Juong
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Engagement in leisure is a complex construct that impacts wellbeing beyond mere participation. Moreover, researchers have explored engagement in various ways including what people do and experience in their personal pursuit of leisure activities (Kleiber et al., 2011). Studies show that leisure engagement positively effects participants' wellbeing and reduces their ill-being. The purpose of this study is to explore the level of cosplay leisure engagement and wellness and mental health of DragonCon (DC) attendees to illuminate if their cosplay engagement has therapeutic effects on wellness, perceived wellness, and depression. In this study, Newman (et al., 2013) and Kuykendall (et al., 2015) leisure models were adapted to measure immersive tendencies, enduring involvement, and behavioral measures of cosplay at the Dragon Con (DC) annual convention. Three research questions were explored 1) the relationships between leisure engagement factored variables and the mental health response variables 2) the relationship of time elapsed from DC event participation and response variables and 3) the relationship of Cosplayer Status and the response variables. Using regression analyses of the seven predictor variables of cosplay engagement and the three response variables measured in this study showed that immersive tendencies, Dragon Con Activity participation and number of years attending Dragon Con predicted significant relationships with lower depression. Spiritual and the Physical Dimensions of Wellness also were positively affected by Cosplay in two of the three engagement models. Hypotheses testing of Cosplay participation effects on depression suggests that future research should be completed to discover nuances that can be used by recreational therapists recommendations of cosplay activities to reduce depression.
Recommended Citation
Morris Chambers, Julie A., "Cosplay Fandom Leisure Engagement: Exploring cosplay participation and involvement on depression and wellbeing toward a recreation therapy." (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2846.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2846