TY - JOUR T1 - Physical, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Mediators of Activity Involvement and Health in Later Life. JF - Res Aging Y1 - 2016 A1 - Matz-Costa, Christina A1 - Dawn C Carr A1 - Tay K. McNamara A1 - Jacquelyn Boone James KW - Aged KW - depression KW - Efficiency KW - Employment KW - Exercise KW - Female KW - Health Status KW - Humans KW - Longitudinal Studies KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Quality of Life KW - Volunteers AB -

The current study tests the indirect effect of activity-related physical activity, cognitive activity, social interaction, and emotional exchange on the relationship between activity involvement and health (physical and emotional) in later life. Longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 5,442) were used to estimate a series of linear regression models. We found significant indirect effects for social interaction and benefit to others (emotional exchange) on emotional health (depressive symptoms) and indirect effects for use of body and benefit to others (physical) on physical health (frailty). The most potent indirect effect associated with emotional and physical health was experienced by those engaged in all four domains (use of body, use of mind, social interaction, and benefit to others). While effect sizes are small and results should be interpreted with caution, findings shed light on ways in which public health interventions aimed toward increasing role engagement in later life could be improved.

VL - 38 UR - http://roa.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/09/30/0164027515606182.abstract IS - 7 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26429863?dopt=Abstract U4 - activity levels/productivity/employment/volunteer activity/health outcomes ER -