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

TitleLife transitions and leisure activity engagement among older Americans: findings from a national longitudinal study
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsLee, Y, Chi, I, Ailshire, JA
JournalAgeing and Society
Volume40
Issue3
Pagination537-564
Type of ArticleJournal
ISSN Number0144-686X
KeywordsCAMS, Leisure activities, Life transitions, Widowhood
Abstract

One 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.

URLhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/life-transitions-and-leisure-activity-engagement-among-older-americans-findings-from-a-national-longitudinal-study/4660EFBC38391378EE45D4BDD860943E
DOI10.1017/S0144686X18001101
Short TitleAgeing and Society
Citation Key9833