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Leisure and the older adult: The influence of leisure on life satisfaction, self-reported health and depression
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if any associations existed between leisure participation and life satisfaction, self-reported health and depression. The demographic variables of age, gender, race, income, education and place of residence were also examined for associations. Powell and Thorson's 1994 comparative study of elderly in the state of Nebraska provided the data for this study of 700 randomly selected older Nebraskans. An over-sampling of 100 African-Americans was drawn from a large metropolitan area in the state. A 228-question telephone survey was administered to the 700 respondents in May, 1994. The research questions were designed to determine if there is a relationship between life satisfaction, self-reported health and depression and amount of involvement in leisure activities. The demographic variables of age, gender, race, income, education and place of residence were also examined for relationships between them and leisure participation and life satisfaction, self-reported health and depression. A profile of the subjects was constructed by use of frequency counts and tables and graphs provided descriptive statistics. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to determine if any relationships existed between the independent and dependent variables. It was determined that there is a higher level of life satisfaction among those respondents who had higher levels of leisure activity. The Outside Activity Scale showed a positive correlation with self-reported health $(r=.1748,\ p<.01),$ although the other scales used to determine leisure activity and self-reported health (Organization Activity, Weekly Interaction with Family and Friends, and Passive Activity Scales) showed no significant relationships. It was determined that those who spend less time involved in outside activities having more depression $(r={-}.2342,\ p<.01).$ Significant relationships were found between three of the measures of leisure participation and the demographic variables. Self-reported health, life satisfaction, depression and the demographic variables also determined significant relationships.
Subject Area
Gerontology|Recreation
Recommended Citation
Lance Cavener, Judith Louise, "Leisure and the older adult: The influence of leisure on life satisfaction, self-reported health and depression" (1996). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9700078.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9700078