ABSTRACT As the global population ages, older adults become vital contributors to societal and economic development through various productive activities. This scoping review aims to synthesize qualitative and quantitative evidence for persons 50 years of age and older to address two fundamental questions: (1) What are the most common types of productive engagement activities chosen by older adults? (2) How does participation in these activities relate to the physical, cognitive, social, or emotional well-being of older adults? Following the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis (2020) and PRISMA-ScR Checklist, three databases were systematically searched using terms related to older adults and productive engagement. Inclusion criteria targeted studies focusing on productive engagement in older adults aged 50 and above, with no design restrictions, from 2000 to 2023. Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Results revealed a range of productive activities, including paid work, volunteering, caregiving, and lifelong learning. Volunteerism emerged as a prevalent theme, enhancing older adults’ well-being. Caregiving, however, was associated with negative impacts on emotional well-being in some studies. The gaps identified included limited research on education-related activities and a reliance on secondary data sources. This review contributes to understanding productive engagement in later life and older adults´ role in society.
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