title: Health benefits of serious involvement in leisure activities among older Korean adults.
abstract: The existing literature suggests that serious engagement in leisure activities leads to happiness, life satisfaction, and successful aging among older adults. This qualitative study was used to examine the benefits of serious involvement in leisure activities among older Korean adults who were members of a sports club. Using an analytic data analysis, we identified three main themes associated with the benefits of serious engagement in leisure activities: 1) the experience of psychological benefits, 2) the creation of social support, and 3) the enhancement of physical health. These themes indicate that, through serious involvement in certain physical activities, participants gain various health benefits, which may contribute to successful aging.
authors: Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services Administration, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI, USA.
authors: Junhyoung
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Division of Sport Science, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea.
authors: Naoko
authors: N
authors: Yamada
authors: Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors: Jinmoo
authors: J
authors: Heo
authors: Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services Administration, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI, USA; aruemee@naver.com.
authors: Areum
authors: A
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Serious leisure; health; older Korean adults; well-being