Many reasons have been proposed for why leisure has beneficial health effects (e.g., improving stress coping, reducing stress, promoting relaxation responses, reducing boredom). Although the specifics of these theories vary, a common element that many share is proposing transactional or in-the moment effects of leisure. That is, these theories propose within-person explanations for its effects; for example, stress is reduced because leisure confers some positive relaxation benefit. To read more on this study by Matthew J. Zawadzki, Ph.D. & Joshua M. Smyth, Ph.D. & Heather J. Costigan, B.S.