A Study on the Influence of Social Leisure Activities on the Progression to the Stage of Frailty in Korean Seniors

Abstract

In this study, we performed a logistic regression analysis according to the frequency of participation in social leisure activities (education, clubs, social groups, volunteer activities, religious activities, and senior citizens’ welfare center use) by men and women aged ≥ 65 years. We investigated the frequency of participation in social leisure activities and their association with the level of frailty (health vs. pre-frailty, health vs. frailty, pre-frailty vs. frailty). This study included 10,297 older adults (men: 4128, women: 6169) who participated in the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans, and were divided into three groups (healthy, pre-frailty, and frailty). Five frailty index components were used to measure the frailty level. There was a positive relationship between the elderly’s religious activities, four times a week, from the healthy stage to the frailty stage, from the healthy stage to the pre-frailty stage, and from the pre-frailty stage to the frailty. In addition, positive associations emerged in leisure activities and club activities, respectively, from the healthy stage to the frailty stage (once a week, respectively). Positive association also emerged from the healthy stage to the pre-frailty and from the pre-frailty stage to the frailty stage (once a month to once in a two-week period).

Associations Between Intellectual and Social Activities With Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Based on a 2-year cohort, the results from the study of Ye et al showed that social participation was associated with a higher prefrail improvement ( 29 ). Kim et al conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the frequency of social activity participation and its association with the different levels of frailty ( 27 ). They found that social activities such as leisure and club activities at a frequency of once a week were associated with frailty prevention ( 27 ).…”

“…Kim et al conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the frequency of social activity participation and its association with the different levels of frailty ( 27 ). They found that social activities such as leisure and club activities at a frequency of once a week were associated with frailty prevention ( 27 ). The results of this study were in agreement with these previous findings, despite the differences in the setting population, the frailty index domains, and details in the social and intellectual activities included between this study and the previous studies.…”

“…Social and intellectual activities, along with physical activities and nutritional intake, play an important role in frailty prevention (2,12). The associations between social or intellectual activities and physical frailty have been investigated in many studies (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32). For example, a 4-year cohort study in Japan found that social frailty was a significant risk factor that leads to physical frailty (25).…”

Direct and Indirect Effects of COVID-19 in Frail Elderly: Interventions and Recommendations

“…Although evidence has not demonstrated the existence of social frailty, strengthening social networks can reduce levels of the disease by improving independence, maintaining a healthier diet, more frequent physical activity, and curbing excessive consumption of alcohol or tobacco [62]. Specific social leisure activities have been evaluated (social clubs and programs, volunteer activities, religious activities, education programs, visit art exhibitions, theater, or cinema) and demonstrated their effect on the relationship between the frequency of the activities and the reduction in the progression of frailty [63,64].…”

Symptoms and experiences of frailty in lung cancer patients with chemotherapy: A mixed-method approach

“…Frailty refers to a complex condition that is characterized by the decreased physiological function of multiple organs and systems, and this disease could increase the susceptibility of patients to stressors ( 1 ). Frailty categorizes individuals into three categories: non-frail individuals, pre-frail individuals and frail individuals ( 2 ). Frailty is a dynamic process and patients can shift between different frailty states ( 3 , 4 ).…”