title: The effects of participation in leisure activities on neuropsychiatric symptoms of persons with cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with cognitive impairment have been shown to engage in few structured activities. During periods of unoccupied time or boredom, these patients most likely manifest neuropsychiatric symptoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to (1) describe the leisure-activity indicators (variety in leisure activities, appraisal of each activity's restorative function, and leisure dysfunction, i.e. failure to appreciate the importance of restorative aspects of leisure activity), of community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults with cognitive impairment, and (2) explore the relationships between these indicators and neuropsychiatric symptoms in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Memory disorder and geriatric psychiatric clinics of two hospitals in northern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient-family caregiver dyads (N=60).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients' dementia severity, based on Clinical Dementia Rating scores, was 0.5-2.0. Family caregivers completed the Chinese Neuropsychiatric Inventory to assess patients' behavioral problems and the Restorative Activity Questionnaire to assess patients' participation in leisure activities, restorative experience, and leisure dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, patients participated in approximately five individual leisure activities, but very few group leisure activities. The top three leisure activities were watching TV, taking a walk, and talking to relatives and friends. The leisure activities in which participants least commonly engaged were fishing, attending cultural exhibitions, and chess/card playing. All leisure-activity indicators were significantly correlated with disease stage, global cognitive function, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Two leisure-activity indicators (leisure dysfunction and restorative experiences) were significantly correlated with depressive symptoms. Only leisure dysfunction significantly and consistently predicted neuropsychiatric symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results can be used by home health or community health nurses to design tailored leisure-activity plans for improving the care quality of patients with cognitive impairment. Health professionals can develop leisure-education programmes to emphasize the value of leisure pursuit and to modify attitudes toward participating in leisure activities. Finally, parks and recreational agencies may re-examine their services and facilities to meet the increasing needs of this population.
authors: School of Nursing and Healthy Aging Research Center, College of Medicine, Chung Gung University,Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC. yulandac@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors: Yi-Chen
authors: YC
authors: Chiu
authors: Chien-Ying
authors: CY
authors: Huang
authors: Ann M
authors: AM
authors: Kolanowski
authors: Hsiu-Li
authors: HL
authors: Huang
authors: Yeaing Lotus
authors: YL
authors: Shyu
authors: Shu-Hwa
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Ching-Rong
authors: CR
authors: Lin
authors: Wen-Chuin
authors: WC
authors: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011998:Recreation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Leisure activity; Neurolopsychological symptoms