Continuing and ceasing leisure activities in later life: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined changes in leisure activities of older adults over an 8-year period, and associated sociodemographic and health characteristics.


METHODS
Data were from a longitudinal study conducted in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; 380 respondents were interviewed in-person in both 1985 and 1993. Changes in ten specific activities and the overall number of activities continued were examined.


RESULTS
Theater/movies/spectator sports and travel were the activities least likely to be continued over the 8-year period; watching television and reading were most likely to be continued. Characteristics significantly related to changes in activities were age, gender, education, and self-rated health in 1985 as well as changes in marital status, self-rated health, and functional ability between 1985 and 1993, although no consistent pattern emerged.


CONCLUSIONS
Leisure education is discussed as a means of introducing modifications to enhance older adults' participation in desired activities. Directions for future research are highlighted.
Strain
Laurel A
LA
Centre on Aging and Department of Sociology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. laurel_strain@umanitoba.ca
Grabusic
Carmen C
CC
Searle
Mark S
MS
Dunn
Nicole J
NJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000145:classification; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011998:Recreation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors