title: Longitudinal Relationships Between Productive Activities and Functional Health in Later Years: A Multivariate Latent Growth Curve Modeling Approach.
abstract: This study examined the longitudinal relationships between functional health in later years and three types of productive activities: volunteering, full-time, and part-time work. Using the data from five waves (2000-2008) of the Health and Retirement Study, we applied multivariate latent growth curve modeling to examine the longitudinal relationships among individuals 50 or over. Functional health was measured by limitations in activities of daily living. Individuals who volunteered, worked either full time or part time exhibited a slower decline in functional health than nonparticipants. Significant associations were also found between initial functional health and longitudinal changes in productive activity participation. This study provides additional support for the benefits of productive activities later in life; engagement in volunteering and employment are indeed associated with better functional health in middle and old age.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Eunhee.Choi@Colostate.edu.
authors.forename: Eunhee
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Fengyan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Korea Institute of Public Administration, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Turk
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: activities of daily living; full-time work; functional health; latent growth curve modeling; part-time work; productive activity; volunteering