Lifestyle differentiation among older adults: exploring the links between individuals’ behaviours, socio-demographic characteristics, health and wellbeing in later life

Ewa Jarosz

doi:10.1017/s0144686x21001586

Abstract

AbstractThe association between everyday activities, health and subjective wellbeing in older adults has mostly been examined using different activities as separate variables. Which activities are likely to come together in individuals’ daily time-use patterns, or in what context, has not yet been analysed. This study looks at a broad range of spontaneously reported activities, their location and social context to identify latent behavioural classes. The data used in the study came from a sample of 200 non-institutionalised adults aged 65 and above. Activity data were collected using the Experience Sampling Method. Generalised structural equation modelling was used to identify the classes. Three distinctive behavioural classes, representing different lifestyles, emerged: passive domiciliary, active functional and social recreational. They constituted 30, 53 and 17 per cent of the sample, respectively. Class membership was related to individuals’ age, education and selected dimensions of health measured using the Nottingham Health Profile: energy levels and emotional response. There was consistency between the objectively measured class and an individual's subjective assessment of their physical and emotional health. While both class membership and subjective wellbeing were associated with health, the relationship between class and wellbeing was weak and fully explained by socio-demographic and health-related variables.

Highlights

The association between everyday activities, health and wellbeing in older adults has received substantial theoretical and research attention
Studies have found that a greater frequency of participation in certain types of activities is associated with better long-term outcomes including health, wellbeing and survival (Menec, 2003; Agahi and Parker, 2008; Adams et al, 2011)
In a lifestyle-based approach to individuals’ behaviours, such as one adopted by the health lifestyle theory (Cockerham, 1999) or by structural constructivism (Bourdieu, 1984), behaviours or practices are seen in a synthesised manner, and they are linked with one another through their common denominators such as structural position or class habitus

Summary

Introduction

The association between everyday activities, health and wellbeing in older adults has received substantial theoretical and research attention. In a lifestyle-based approach to individuals’ behaviours, such as one adopted by the health lifestyle theory (Cockerham, 1999) or by structural constructivism (Bourdieu, 1984), behaviours or practices are seen in a synthesised manner, and they are linked with one another through their common denominators such as structural position or class habitus. Such a synthesised approach is uncommon in the field of gerontology, where studies looking at the time use of older adults typically focus on selected activities as independent units, not as a reflection of unobservable dispositions

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion