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

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1603-1623 ◽  
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.

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

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1212-1234 ◽  
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.

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

GeroPsych ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
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.

Activity Patterns and Health Outcomes in Later Life: The Role of Nature of Engagement

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 698-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Chih Chen ◽  
Michelle Putnam ◽  
Yung Soo Lee ◽  
Nancy Morrow-Howell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Engagement ◽  
Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives The health benefit of activity participation at older ages is documented in the current literature. Many studies, however, only explored the health benefits of engaging in a few activities and did not examine mechanisms connecting activity participation to health. We investigated the pathway between activity and health by testing the mediation role of the nature of engagement (physical, cognitive, and social) on physical, mental, and cognitive health of older adults. Research Design and Methods We analyzed data of 6,044 older adults from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study linked with 2011 Consumption and Activity Mail Survey. We used latent class analysis to identify the patterns of participating in 33 activities as well as patterns of nature of engagement, and examined how these patterns were associated with cognition, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health in later life. Results Meaningful patterns of activity (high, medium, low, passive leisure, and working) and the nature of activity engagement (full, partial, and minimal) were identified. High and working groups, compared to the passive leisure group, showed better health and cognition outcomes. The nature of engagement mediated the relationship between activity patterns and health, especially for older adults who were either full or partially engaged. Discussion and Implications The nature of engagement may play a more important role than the activity itself in relation to health. Identifying the heterogeneity in activity engagement in later life is critical for tailoring interventions and designing programs that can improve the health of older adults.

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

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1753-1758 ◽  
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.

Life transitions and leisure activity engagement among older Americans: findings from a national longitudinal study

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-564
Author(s):  
Yura Lee ◽  
Iris Chi ◽  
Jennifer A. Ailshire
Keyword(s):  
Mail Survey ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Activity Engagement ◽  
Household Activities ◽  
Leisure Engagement ◽  
The Impact

AbstractOne of the major aspects of successful ageing is active engagement in later life. Retirement and widowhood are two significant life transitions that may largely influence leisure engagement patterns among older adults. Limited findings exist regarding the impact of life transitions on leisure activity engagement due to the scarcity of longitudinal data with repeated measurement of older individuals’ leisure engagement. This study longitudinally examined changes in leisure activity engagement as influenced by retirement and widowhood using five waves of national panel data from the Health and Retirement Study and its supplementary Consumption and Activities Mail Survey. Multi-level modelling was conducted with retirement and widowhood status as time-varying variables. Socio-economic status, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, self-rated health and functional limitations were also included as time-varying and time-invariant covariates. Findings show that engagement in mental, physical, social and household activities significantly decreased during an eight-year period. Moreover, transition from working to retired status was associated with increased engagement in mental, social and household activities but decreased engagement in physical activities among men only. Transition from married to widowhood status was associated with decreased engagement in household activities among women only. Encouraging active leisure engagement among individuals who experience either or both life transitions may help maintain their health after transition.

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

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATHRYN BETTS ADAMS ◽  
SYLVIA LEIBBRANDT ◽  
HEEHYUL MOON
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Activity Theory ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Original Activity ◽  
Psychological Constructs ◽  
Social Leisure ◽  
High Participation

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.

Non-Spousal Support, Marital Status, and Mortality Risk

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110253
Author(s):  
Adam R. Roth ◽  
Siyun Peng
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Spousal Support ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Never Married ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Using Data

Objective To investigate whether the association between non-spousal support and mortality risk differs by marital status. Methods Using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 2460), we estimate a series of logistic regression models to assess how non-spousal support moderates the relationship between marital status and mortality across a 5-year period. Results Never married respondents who had minimal perceived access to non-spousal support had a greater probability of death compared to married respondents with similar levels of non-spousal support. The disparity in mortality risk between these two groups disappeared when non-spousal support was high. Discussion Although family and friends play an important role in mortality risk in later life, these findings suggest that never married older adults exhibit a heightened dependence on support from non-spousal sources. Future research and policies should explore ways in which never married older adults can be integrated into a supportive social environment.

scholarly journals Leisure activities and depressive symptoms in older adults with cognitive complaints

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina Poelke ◽  
Maria I. Ventura ◽  
Amy L. Byers ◽  
Kristine Yaffe ◽  
Rebecca Sudore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Mental Activity ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Cognitive Complaints ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Activity Engagement ◽  
Increased Risk

ABSTRACTBackground:Depressive symptoms are common in older adults and associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment. Leisure activities are often promoted for individuals with mood symptoms but few studies compare the effects of different types of leisure activities on reducing depressive symptoms.Methods:Data were analyzed from participants enrolled from 2008–2009 in the Mental Activity and eXercise (MAX) Trial, which examined the effects of physical plus mental activity over 12 weeks in inactive older adults with cognitive complaints. There were no significant differences between intervention groups on the primary outcome of cognitive function or the secondary outcome of depressive symptoms; therefore, all participants were combined for the current analyses in which we examined changes in leisure activity engagement (Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS)), and changes in depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)) as a function of changes in leisure activity engagement from baseline to post-intervention.Results:Participants’ mean age was 73.0 years, 61.6% were female, and 63.6% were non-Hispanic white. There was a significant change in total hours per week engaged in leisure activities from baseline (36.7 hours, SD = 12.7) to post-intervention (40.4 hours, SD = 15.7; pairedt-testp= 0.02), and mean change in depressive symptoms was significantly inversely correlated with change in leisure activity hours such that increases in total leisure activity were associated with decreases in depressive symptoms (r= −0.21,p= 0.04).Conclusions:Increasing the total amount of leisure activity levels may help lower depressive symptoms in inactive older adults with cognitive complaints.

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

PLoS ONE ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Hearing loss and cognitive function among Chinese older adults: The role of participation in leisure activities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiamin Gao ◽  
Nicole M. Armstrong ◽  
Jennifer A. Deal ◽  
Frank R. Lin ◽  
Ping He
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Activity Engagement

Abstract Background Hearing loss, a highly prevalent sensory impairment affecting older adults, is a risk factor for cognition decline. However, there were very limited studies on this association in low-resource countries. This study aimed to assess whether having hearing loss were associated with cognitive decline and engagement in leisure activities modified this association among Chinese elderly. Methods Using data from the nationally representative survey of China Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) between 2011-2014, 9,710 individuals aged 65 years old or above with self-reported measures of hearing status and global cognition, as measured by the Modified Mini Mental Examination (MMSE), were included in this study. Fixed-effects models were used to estimate whether leisure activity engagement moderated the association of self-perceived hearing loss with global cognitive change in the overall sample and by sex. Results People with self-reported hearing loss was associated with cognitive impairment, with an odds ratio of 2.48 [1.22, 5.06]. Sex difference on the association of hearing loss and cognitive impairment was not found. Self-reported hearing loss was associated with cognitive function decline with 8% [-1.22, -0.39] increase in risk compared with those with normal hearing. Frequent engagement in leisure activities moderated the association between hearing loss and cognition. Actively participating in leisure activities modified the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline in males, while leisure activity engagement did not modify any associations among females. Conclusion Hearing loss was associated with cognitive decline, and leisure activities engagement moderated the association among males rather than females.

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