A critical review of the literature on social and leisure activity and wellbeing in later life

ABSTRACTAn engaged lifestyle is seen as an important component of successful ageing. Many older adults with high participation in social and leisure activities report positive wellbeing, a fact that fuelled the original activity theory and that continues to influence researchers, theorists and practitioners. This study's purpose is to review the conceptualisation and measurement of activity among older adults and the associations reported in the gerontological literature between specific dimensions of activity and wellbeing. We searched published studies that focused on social and leisure activity and wellbeing, and found 42 studies in 44 articles published between 1995 and 2009. They reported from one to 13 activity domains, the majority reporting two or three, such as informal, formal and solitary, or productive versus leisure. Domains associated with subjective wellbeing, health or survival included social, leisure, productive, physical, intellectual, service and solitary activities. Informal social activity has accumulated the most evidence of an influence on wellbeing. Individual descriptors such as gender or physical functioning sometimes moderate these associations, while contextual variables such as choice, meaning or perceived quality play intervening roles. Differences in definitions and measurement make it difficult to draw inferences about this body of evidence on the associations between activity and wellbeing. Activity theory serves as shorthand for these associations, but gerontology must better integrate developmental and psychological constructs into a refined, comprehensive activity theory.

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Leisure Activities and the Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults in Croatia

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000179 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan ◽

Tihana Brkljačić ◽

Zvjezdana Prizmić Larsen ◽

Andreja Brajša-Žganec ◽

Renata Franc

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Perceived Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Financial Status

Abstract. Research shows that engagement in leisure activities promotes well-being among older adults. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between subjective well-being (flourishing) and leisure activities (total number of different activities in the previous year) in a sample of older adults in Croatia, thereby considering the variables of sex, marital status, financial status, and self-perceived health. The differences in the examined variables between the groups of older adults who reported to be engaged in new activities with those who did not were also examined. The sample of N = 169 older adults aged 60 years and above was drawn from a convenience sample of adult internet users in Croatia. Participants reported their self-perceived health and the number of leisure activities they engaged in over the previous year as well as completing the Flourishing Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that older adults who were engaged in more various leisure activities, who perceived better financial status, and who were married reported higher levels of flourishing. A comparison of the two groups of older adults with and without engagement in leisure activities showed that those engaged in at least one leisure activity were more likely to be women, reported higher levels of flourishing, and perceived their own financial status as better. This study indicated that engaging in leisure activities in later life might provide beneficial effects for the well-being of older adults.

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Activity Patterns Associated With Health Status in Later Life Among Singaporeans

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464818784863 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 311-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Song-Iee Hong ◽

Srinivasan Chokkanathan ◽

Philip A. Rozario

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Latent Class ◽

Service Providers ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Social Leisure ◽

Health Related ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The Impact

Research on activities overlooks the possibility that older adults engage in different activities contemporaneously. To address this gap, we used latent class analyses to identify activity patterns and then examined demographic and health correlates of these patterns among a nationally representative sample of older adults in Singapore. We identified four classes of activities: the family-focused instrumental activity (FIA) class, the social leisure activity (SLA) class, the multidynamic activity (MDA) class, and the passive activity (PA) class. Furthermore, the MDA members showed higher scores in their mental health. Worse physical functioning and higher depression scores also increased the likelihood of being in the FIA and PA groups. Significant demographics such as gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, employment, house type, and income were related to heterogeneity in older adults’ activity patterns. Service providers might consider the impact of certain significant demographic and health-related correlates when planning programs to ensure greater reach and access.

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Types of social networks and starting leisure activities in later life: A longitudinal Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0254828 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. e0254828

Author(s):

Takuya Sekiguchi ◽

Katsunori Kondo ◽

Mihoko Otake-Matsuura

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Latent Class ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Evaluation Study ◽

Latent Classes ◽

Beneficial Effects

Considering beneficial effects of leisure activities in later life on well-being and health, we investigated which type of social network among older adults is associated with starting their participation in leisure activities. We used data from a longitudinal Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) conducted in Japan every three years from 2010 to 2016. We extracted types of social networks of older adults who did not participate in leisure activities in 2013 and responded to items related to social networks (n = 3436) relying on latent class analysis to examine changes in leisure activity participation over a three-year period within each latent class while controlling for participants’ activity in 2010. As a result, we identified five latent classes of social networks: the Neighborhood network, the Restricted network, which is characterized by limited social contacts, the Colleagues network, the Same-Interest network, and the Diverse network, from the most to the least prevalent. We found that members of the Neighborhood (Cohen’s d = 0.161) and Same-Interest networks (d = 0.660) were significantly more likely to, and members of the Diverse (d = 0.124) and Colleague networks (d = 0.060) were not significantly more likely to start leisure activities than those in the Restricted network. Furthermore, we found that lower age, better mental health, and higher education level were positively associated with starting participation in leisure activities in some latent classes. Horticulture or gardening was most likely to be chosen across all latent classes. Supporting the formation of social networks facilitating leisure activities, and recommending activities that were likely to be selected could be one solution for getting and keeping older adults active.

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Life transitions and leisure activity engagement in later life: findings from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS)

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x17000216 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (8) ◽

pp. 1603-1623 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

YURA LEE ◽

JOOHONG MIN ◽

IRIS CHI

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Marital Status ◽

Labour Force ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Mail Survey ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Activity Engagement ◽

Never Married

ABSTRACTThis study examined engagement in leisure activities among older adults, specifically focusing on how life transition factors in later life, including retirement and marital status, are associated with leisure activity engagement using a national sample of older American men and women. We conducted multiple regression analyses with a sample of 5,405 individuals (2,318 men; 3,087 women) from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, a supplementary sample of the Health and Retirement Study. We analysed activity engagement in each of four domains of leisure activities: mental, physical, social and religious. Retirement status was categorised into three groups: working (referent), completely retired and partly retired. Marital status was categorised into four groups: married (referent), divorced or separated, widowed and never married. We found an overall trend of a positive relationship between retirement and leisure activity engagement, which suggests that retirement provides a chance for older adults to participate in leisure activities after withdrawal from the labour force. The overall trend of a negative relationship between non-married status and leisure activity engagement suggests that the loss or absence of a spouse may serve as a barrier to participate in leisure activities. Nevertheless, variation among retirees and non-married individuals suggests future studies should compare completely and partly retired individuals or those who are widowed, divorced or separated, or never married to elucidate distinguishable leisure activity profiles.

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Retirement, Leisure Activity Engagement, and Cognition Among Older Adults in the United States

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264318767030 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (7) ◽

pp. 1212-1234 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Yura Lee ◽

Iris Chi ◽

Lawrence A. Palinkas

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Mail Survey ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

The United States ◽

Life Transitions ◽

Life Transition ◽

Activity Engagement ◽

Significant Life

Objective: Retirement is a salient later-life transition that may influence cognition. Leisure activities can help individuals better adjust to life after significant life transitions. This study examined the role of leisure activity engagement in the relationship between retirement and cognition. Method: A path analysis ( N = 2,827) was conducted using three waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2004, 2006, 2008) and its supplementary Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, to test the association between retirement (categorized as remained working, transitioned to retirement, remained retired) and cognition (memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed) via leisure (mental, physical, social, household) activity engagement. Results: Older adults who remained retired showed significantly lower cognition than those who remained working. Moreover, this negative association between retirement and cognition was attenuated by greater engagement mental activities. Discussion: Interventions that encourage mental activities among retired individuals are strongly suggested to help maintain cognitive function.

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Asking Young Adults about Their Attitudes toward and Knowledge of Sex in Later Life

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3220 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 870-871

Author(s):

Iulia Fratila ◽

Liza Berdychevsky

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Knowledge And Attitudes ◽

Intercept Survey ◽

Knowledge Practice ◽

Research Questions

Abstract Sexual expression is a lifelong need related to health and wellbeing. However, older adults’ sexuality is often neglected and stigmatized due to societal ageist stereotypes portraying them as asexual. Although baby boomers’ generation resists such portrayals, societal acceptance of sexuality in later life is slow to materialize. The purpose of this study was to explore this acceptance among young adults while focusing on three research questions: (1) How much do young adults know about older adults’ sexuality and how do they feel about it? (2) Do young adults’ knowledge and views of later-life sexuality vary by gender? (3) Do young adults’ views of later-life sexuality vary based on their general attitudes toward sexuality? Data collection included online and intercept survey methods. The sample (N=270) was young (M=21.58 years, SD=4.32) and included 149 women and 113 men. Results revealed that young adults had medium levels of knowledge, yet rather permissive/open-minded attitudes regarding later-life sexuality. Higher levels of knowledge were unrelated to more permissive attitudes. Independent samples t-test revealed no differences by gender in young adults’ knowledge and attitudes. However, multiple regression results indicated that general liberal attitudes toward sexuality (β=.772, t=17.867, p=.000) and viewing sex as leisure activity (β=.147, t=3.338, p=.001) are significant predictors of having more permissive/open-minded attitudes toward older adults’ sexuality (R2=.557, F(3,266)=111.390, p=.000). These findings suggest that socio-psychological (rather than cognitive and demographic) factors drive the acceptance of later-life sexuality among young adults. This study offers valuable insights for knowledge, practice, and advocacy concerning older adults’ sexuality.

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Correlation between Leisure Activity Time and Life Satisfaction: Based on KOSTAT Time Use Survey Data

Occupational Therapy International ◽

10.1155/2018/5154819 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yu-Jin Cha

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Time Use ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

National Level ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Full Time ◽

Activity Time ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Time Use Survey

Rationale. This study aims to investigate the correlation between the available leisure activity time and life satisfaction of the healthy elderly and the factors affecting them. Method. For the analysis, data from the 2014 Time Use Survey (2014TUS) published by Statistics Korea (KOSTAT) was used. This study classified the detailed activities of 9228 subjects, based on the data in 2014TUS, and analyzed the differences in time use for occupation domains by age group. Results. It was found that a greater amount time used for outdoor leisure activities yielded a higher life satisfaction value. Differences were found in time use by occupation domains between younger and older groups. These showed higher life satisfaction for those with spouses, regular full-time jobs, higher education, and better health. Conclusion. Based on these results, in order to improve the quality of life (QoL) for older adults, it is necessary to develop various leisure programs that require dynamic physical activities and to prepare alternative policies at the national level to promote participation in leisure activities by older adults. This study will provide occupational therapists (OTs) with data they can use to help older adults who have difficulty in time usage through time management intervention to improve their life satisfaction and QoL.

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Effects of Participation in Social Activities on Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Korea

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15102315 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 2315 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jongnam Hwang ◽

Sangmin Park ◽

Sujin Kim

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Social Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Social Activities ◽

The Social ◽

Gender Groups

Cognitive function is a critical health issue in later life, the decline of which disrupts well-being and daily life function. Cognitive decline in older ages can also be understood in the context of the social environment such as social connectedness and engagement in personal life. This study aimed to examine: (1) whether participation in social activities contributes to preventing cognitive decline, and (2) what type of social activities are beneficial to maintaining cognitive function. Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLOSA) 2006–2014, a longitudinal survey of the household-dwelling population aged 45 and older in Korea were used. The results revealed that Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores decreased with increasing age, at a rate of approximately 0.18 units across all age-gender groups, and the decrease was steeper for adults aged 65 and over. Participation in social gatherings was likely to delay the decline in cognitive function after the age of 65. In a gender-stratified model, social activity may not have an impact on the decline of cognitive function for men, whereas participation in social gatherings was negatively related to the decline of MMSE scores in women. This study suggests the need for a gender-stratified policy for preventing the decline of cognitive function while promoting engagement in social activities in Korean older adults.

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The relation of close friends to cognitive performance in old age: the mediating role of leisure activities

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610218000789 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (12) ◽

pp. 1753-1758 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Andreas Ihle ◽

Michel Oris ◽

Marie Baeriswyl ◽

Matthias Kliegel

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Old Age ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Point Of View ◽

Activity Engagement ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Trail Making ◽

The One

ABSTRACTBackground:From a conceptual point of view, close friends are an important resource for promoting activity engagement in old age. Leisure activity engagement in turn is a key predictor of cognitive performance. Empirically, it remains unclear so far whether leisure activity engagement mediates between having close friends on the one hand and cognitive performance on the other, which we investigated in a large sample of older adults.Methods:We assessed cognitive performance (Mill Hill vocabulary scale and Trail Making Test (TMT) parts A and B) in 2,812 older adults. Participants reported information on leisure activity engagement and close friends.Results:A larger number of leisure activities and a larger number of close friends were significantly related to better cognitive performance in the Mill Hill vocabulary scale and TMT parts A and B. A larger number of close friends were significantly related to a larger number of leisure activities. The number of leisure activities mediated more than half of the relation of the number of close friends to performance in all three cognitive measures.Conclusions:Having close friends may be helpful to stimulate and promote activity participation in old age. By enhancing individuals’ cognitive reserve, this may finally preserve their cognitive performance level in old age.

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