title: Continuing and ceasing leisure activities in later life: a longitudinal study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centre on Aging and Department of Sociology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. laurel_strain@umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: Laurel A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.forename: Carmen C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Grabusic
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Searle
authors.forename: Nicole J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: 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