Social relationships, leisure activity, and health in older adults.

Abstract

Objective Although the link between enhanced social relationships and better health has generally been well established, few studies have examined the role of leisure activity in this link. This study examined how leisure influences the link between social relationships and health in older age. Methods Using data from the 2006 and 2010 waves of the nationally representative U.S. Health and Retirement Study and structural equation modelling analyses, we examined data on 2,965 older participants to determine if leisure activities mediated the link between social relationships and health in 2010, controlling for race, education level, and health in 2006. Results The results demonstrated that leisure activities mediate the link between social relationships and health in these age groups. Perceptions of positive social relationships were associated with greater involvement in leisure activities, and greater involvement in leisure activities was associated with better health in older age. Discussion & Conclusions The contribution of leisure to health in these age groups is receiving increasing attention, and the results of this study add to the literature on this topic, by identifying the mediating effect of leisure activity on the link between social relationships and health. Future studies aimed at increasing leisure activity may contribute to improved health outcomes in older adults.

Social participation as an indicator of successful aging: an overview of concepts and their associations with health

“…Having regular interactions and being involved in diverse types of ties has a positive effect on health. 21,22 Social connections and health The Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS) is a commonly used tool to assess social connections in geriatric populations. 23 There are three versions of the scale that assess combinations of both the frequency and quality of family, friendship and neighbour ties.…”

Comprendiendo el impacto de los síntomas depresivos en la funcionalidad de las personas mayores

“…En estos sujetos, el deterioro funcional, la restricción en actividades y el estrés percibido se asocian con un mayor incremento de síntomas depresivos (0,378, 0,129, y 0,412 desviaciones estándar respectivamente, p < 0,001) 33 . En esta misma línea, dejar de participar en actividades sociales y de tiempo libre puede incrementar el riesgo de presentar una depresión futura en el adulto mayor a 18 años de seguimiento (β = -1,41, p < 0,001, y β = -1.13, p < 0,001, respectivamente) [34][35][36] .…”

Activities Matter: Personality and Resource Determinants of Activities and their Effect on Mental and Physical Well-being and Retirement Expectations

“…A standardized composite of physical well-being at Time 1 was created using measures of physical functional limitations and number of comorbidities as based on previous literature (α = .78 at Time 1, .73 at Time 3; Chang et al, 2014). Several indices of physical functional limitations were used, including mobility, activities of daily living (ADLs), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).…”

“…at Time 1, .57 at Time 3; Chang et al, 2014). Depression was measured using an 8-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977), where responses were summed and reverse coded such that a higher score reflected less depressive symptoms.…”

“…Social activities have also been associated with fewer depressive symptoms and greater mental well-being (Jopp & Hertzog, 2007). There is also evidence that leisure activities, defined as enjoyable activities related to ongoing development that one participates in during one's spare time (Burrus-Bammel & Bammel, 1985), mediate the relationship between social relationships and self-ratings of physical health and subjective well-being (Chang, Wray, & Lin, 2014). More recent metaanalytic research has emphasized the importance of leisure activities for subjective well-being and mental health, finding a small effect for people of any age, and a medium effect of leisure activity participation for retired people (Kuykendall, Tay, & Ng, 2015).…”