從社會學的觀點來看休閒，社會學的分析不在於把休閒分門別類的陳述遊憩、運動、遊戲或觀光等一般被認為是與休閒有關的行為，而是透過相關社會學理論的探討，期望能理解休閒活動參與的理論基礎與架構，研究同時也探討影響休閒活動參與的當代社會議題，發現休閒參與行為的產生，是一種不斷修正的社會結構歷程，其內容除了個人參與的動機及其預期的效益外，也是個體和社會結構互動所產生的結果，這是一個社會化和連續性的結構歷程。基本上休閒本身就是一種複雜的現象，而且也是日常生活現象的組合，因此研究休閒並無法用單一的理論模式或方法來理解，而是必須透過全面性的探索，才能理解其內部構成要素。影響休閒參與的社會要素就如同休閒本身同樣的複雜，在當代的社會現象中則是以社會階層、生活風格和社會變遷這三個議題影響最大。

From the perspective of sociology, the analysis is not to expound behavior of leisure activities such as recreation, sports, games, sightseeing, etc. by classifying it, but to understand its theoretical basis and structure. Meanwhile, the research discusses issues of society today, which influence the participation of leisure activity. Moreover, it shows that the participation behavior of leisure activity is a process, which amends societal structure constantly, and its content is a result of interaction between individual and societal structure, besides the individual participation motives and its expected profits. Therefore, it is a socialized and continuous constructive process. Basically, leisure activity itself is a complicated phenomenon, and also a combination of daily life. Hence, a simplex theory or method can’t define it thoroughly. But through a complete research, we can figure out the essential factor of its interior structure. Also, the social factors, which influence the participation of leisure activity, are as complicated as leisure activity itself. And according to the societal phenomenon today, the issues of social stratum, life style, and social change influence most.