Leisure education reduces stress among older adults

Pickleball, Personality, and Eudaimonic Well-Being in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

This study explored how personality and serious leisure activities, such as playing pickleball, contribute to eudaimonic well-being in middle-aged and older adults. Data were collected at pickleball events at the 2017 Huntsman World Senior Games from a convenience sample of 250 players aged between 50 and 91 years (M = 65.11, SD = 7.49). Of the five personality dispositions examined, conscientiousness (β = 0.32, p < .001), neuroticism (β = −0.22, p < .01), and openness to experience (β = 0.18, p < .01) were discovered to be significant predictors of eudaimonic well-being. Serious leisure also contributed to eudaimonic well-being (β = 0.28, p < .01). The findings of this study enhance the understanding of the behaviors exhibited by older adults and elucidate the positive impact exerted on eudaimonic well-being by personality and serious leisure.

Leisure as an End, Not Just a Means, in Occupational Therapy Intervention

Leisure is commonly treated as a means instead of an end goal of intervention. This approach, influenced by history and society's past values, does not reflect the fact that leisure is meaningful and unique to its participants and has a significant effect on their health. On the basis of the core values of the occupational therapy profession and its role in the health care system, in this article we advocate that occupational therapists should expand their focus to include leisure as a goal of intervention. Although adopting this proposed approach may not be easy, given that it involves challenges in reimbursement for services, potential competition with other health professions, and a twisting of the deep-rooted existing values of occupational therapists, we believe the proposed solutions address these concerns and shed light on how to make leisure a valued goal of intervention.

Occupational Therapy Interventions Supporting Social Participation and Leisure Engagement for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy that address leisure engagement and social participation among community-dwelling older adults. Eleven Level I, 1 Level II, 1 Level III, and 1 Level IV studies met inclusion criteria. Included articles addressed two themes: interventions supporting social participation and interventions supporting leisure engagement. Strong evidence supports leisure education interventions to enhance leisure engagement, and moderate evidence supports chronic disease self-management programs to support leisure engagement. Mixed evidence exists for community-based group interventions and electronic gaming to support social participation. Routine use of leisure education and chronic disease self-management programs to enhance leisure engagement and selective use of community-based groups and electronic gaming to support social participation are recommended.

Is leisure beneficial for older Korean immigrants? An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Leisure is an important quality of life factor for older Korean immigrants. The purpose of this study was to explore leisure benefits associated with health among older Korean immigrants. A total of 18 individuals participated in the study. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), three themes emerged from participants' personal statements and experiences: (a) experiencing psychological benefits, (b) strengthening social connections, and (c) coping with acculturative stress. The findings indicate that leisure provided a context in which older Korean immigrants created an emotional and social support system that helped them to experience psychological and social benefits. This research suggested that older Korean immigrants used leisure as a coping mechanism that results in health and well-being.