TY - JOUR T1 - Longitudinal Relationships Between Productive Activities and Functional Health in Later Years: A Multivariate Latent Growth Curve Modeling Approach. JF - Int J Aging Hum Dev Y1 - 2016 A1 - Choi, Eunhee A1 - Tang, Fengyan A1 - Turk, Phillip KW - Activities of Daily Living KW - Aged KW - Aging KW - Employment KW - Female KW - Health Status KW - Humans KW - Longitudinal Studies KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Volunteers AB -

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.

VL - 83 UR - http://ahd.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/07/21/0091415016657557.long IS - 4 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27461262?dopt=Abstract ER -