The use of leisure time in middle life

An Exploratory Study of the Relationship of Valued Activities to the Life Satisfaction of Elderly Persons

Participants in a nutritional lunch program for the elderly were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the degree to which they are able to participate in valued activities. The respondents ( N=227) completed questionnaires that elicited the above information along with data on perceived health status, income, social supports, and life satisfaction. It was hypothesized that perceived adequacy of participation in valued activity (PAPVA) would be a significant predictor of life satisfaction. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted, using scores on the Life Satisfaction Index as the dependent variable Results showed that perceived health, income, and social supports and PAPVA were significant predictors of life satisfaction The results provided support for the study hypothesis, which was based on an activity resource-perception model of life satisfaction in elderly persons proposed by the investigator.

An Overview of Research using the Time-budget Methodology to study Age-related Behaviour

This article reviews the growing usage of time-budget methodology, until recently seldom applied to older people. Initial studies have demonstrated that it can be employed both for the young-old and the old-old. Wider utilisation seems to have been impeded by difficulty in operationalising the definitions of such key concepts as ‘time’ and ‘leisure’, ‘discretionary’ and ‘obligatory’ activities. Advances in modern computer technology have facilitated the handling of masses of data of the kind produced by studies such as the 12-nation project led by Szalai (N = 30,000). A recent study of four Philadelphia subgroups by Lawton and Moss (N = 535) was successful in introducing a qualitative dimension of ‘liking’, which opens the door to utilising this approach for arriving at more sophisticated measures of psychological wellbeing.

Le loisir des aîné(e)s résidant en immeubles à logements multiples

Cette étude évalue la participation au loisir des résident(e)s de deux immeubles à logements multiples à partir des variables sexe, langue maternelle, éducation, motivation face au loisir et adhérence à un club d'âge d'or. Des analyses de la variance par voie de régression multiple font ressortir cinq catégories de participation significatives: (a) paroissiale, (b) physique, (c) populaire, (d) sociale, et (e) groupe organisé. Les diverses implications de ces résultats sont présentées en fonction de la programmation des loisirs dans les habitations à logements multiples.

Senior adult sexuality in age segregated and age integrated communities

Middle-income older adults who select to reside in age-segregated (AS) leisure-type retirement communities exhibit significantly more sexual interest, sexual activities, and liberal sexual attitudes than do middle-income older adults residing in age-integrated (AI) mainstream communities. Data from 314 respondents on a senior adult sexuality scale were subjected to a discriminant analysis. Sexual activities and traditional sexual interests respectively make the strongest contribution to the group differences. The implications of these findings are discussed.

The fifty-year-old woman and midlife stress

It has been assumed that the fifties are a relatively stable decade; however, women in their fifties are susceptible to many stresses, internal and external. The possibilities of widowhood, divorce, or poverty, combined with intra- and interpersonal strains, make this a time of insecurity about aging for many women. Some suggestions as to why women nonetheless cope successfully with aging are considered.