Life transitions and leisure activity engagement in later life: findings from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS)

TitleLife transitions and leisure activity engagement in later life: findings from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS)
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsLee, Y, Min, J, Chi, I
JournalAgeing and Society
Volume38
Issue8
Pagination1603-1623
ISSN Number0144-686X
KeywordsCAMS, Engagement, Leisure activities, Life transitions
Abstract

This study examined engagement in leisure activities among older adults, specifically focusing on how life transition factors in later life, including retirement and marital status, are associated with leisure activity engagement using a national sample of older American men and women. We conducted multiple regression analyses with a sample of 5,405 individuals (2,318 men; 3,087 women) from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, a supplementary sample of the Health and Retirement Study. We analysed activity engagement in each of four domains of leisure activities: mental, physical, social and religious. Retirement status was categorised into three groups: working (referent), completely retired and partly retired. Marital status was categorised into four groups: married (referent), divorced or separated, widowed and never married. We found an overall trend of a positive relationship between retirement and leisure activity engagement, which suggests that retirement provides a chance for older adults to participate in leisure activities after withdrawal from the labour force. The overall trend of a negative relationship between non-married status and leisure activity engagement suggests that the loss or absence of a spouse may serve as a barrier to participate in leisure activities. Nevertheless, variation among retirees and non-married individuals suggests future studies should compare completely and partly retired individuals or those who are widowed, divorced or separated, or never married to elucidate distinguishable leisure activity profiles. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017

URLhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0144686X17000216/type/journal_articlehttps://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0144686X17000216
DOI10.1017/S0144686X17000216
Short TitleAgeing and Society
Citation Key9054