REFLECTIONS ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF LEISURE AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS REGARDING THIS INTERFACE

ABSTRACT The interface between the leisure and health areas is increasing in Brazil. Thus, it is relevant to investigate how professionals in these areas understand this relationship. This work aims to analyze how professionals affiliated with the Brazilian Association of Research and Graduate Studies in Leisure Studies (ANPEL) and the Brazilian Society of Physical Activity and Health (SBAFS) understand the theme of leisure and health, academically and/or professionally. This research is qualitative, cross-sectional, and exploratory. The study was 80 people (42.9±10.2 years), 41 females, and 44 SBAFS professionals. The IRaMuTeQ software was used for statistical analyses on textual corpus, and critical discourse analysis. The analyses had an 88.25% utilization of the text corpus; a Descending Hierarchical Classification with three classes was generated: 1) Quality of life; 2) Social rights; 3) Academic knowledge. The professionals understand that there is an interface between leisure and health, and that leisure is an important means of promoting human development. However, a gap was identified in the intercession and construction of interdisciplinary knowledge that allows its effectiveness in the daily lives of people, as well as the expansion of intersectoral policies bringing these themes together.