Abstract
Engagement with life is essential to successful aging. This study explored ‘how’ and ‘why’ engagement profiles change throughout older adulthood using a mixed methods design. Fifty-four participants (mean age = 79.17 years, age range = 65–97 years; 21 males, 33 females) completed questionnaires to quantify ‘past’ and ‘present’ engagement. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were completed with a subsample of participants (n = 42). Results highlight participation in a variety of activities across the decades of older adulthood, and identify that engagement in productive and active leisure pursuits decreased in frequency with increasing age, while the frequency of social and passive leisure activities remained stable. Changes in engagement were a function of five themes derived from the fundamental qualitative description: (a) health and physical limitations, (b) death, (c) freedom, (d) desire, and (e) external influential factors. Patterns of engagement frequency are interpreted in consideration of qualitative findings, creating an integrated discussion of ‘how’ and ‘why’ activity profiles emerge during older adulthood. This study highlights the value of a mixed methods approach when examining engagement in older adulthood, and provides practical implications for practitioners who seek to support a successful aging process.
Highlights
Over the last 50 years there has been a significant investment in research on successful aging (SA), where it has been defined as both an outcome and a process (Baltes and Carstensen, 1996; Fisher and Specht, 1999)
Analysis of focus group and semi-structured interview data yielded five themes related to ‘why’ engagement profiles change throughout older adulthood: (a) health and physical limitations, (b) death, (c) freedom, (d) desire, and (e) influential external factors
This study presents a multidimensional examination of ‘how’ and ‘why’ engagement profiles change throughout older adulthood
Summary
Over the last 50 years there has been a significant investment in research on successful aging (SA), where it has been defined as both an outcome and a process (Baltes and Carstensen, 1996; Fisher and Specht, 1999). While a host of variables related to engagement have been used as predictors of successful aging (games/sports – Menec, 2003; visiting friends/reading/watching television – Montross et al, 2006), very little is known about the changing nature of engagement, with most studies employing a cross-sectional research design It is a unique component of SA, compared to health and functioning, as it is modifiable (Everard et al, 2000) and exists in a variety of forms (i.e., passive leisure, productive activities). Regardless of the nomenclature subscribed to, literature suggests that engagement provides a unique and essential component to various models of successful aging From both a research and a practical standpoint, it may be advantageous to understand the demographics of older adults who tend to maintain an active engagement in later life despite age-related changes. The overarching goal was to identify activity profiles and changes in frequency of participation, but the underlying reasons why those changes might occur
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