ACTIVITY ENGAGEMENT IN LATER LIFE: TRANSITIONS, PATTERNS, AND VARIATIONS. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amano, T; Chen, Y; Putnam, M
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 779
• Page End: 780
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.2886
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: An active and engaged lifestyle is an important factor in successful, productive, and healthy aging paradigms. This symposium addresses three emerging topics in this area of research. First, it addresses complexity of activity engagement by identifying overall patterns of engagement and describing interconnectedness of activities. Second, it examines the dynamic longitudinal relationships between activity engagement and outcomes. Finally, it provides empirical evidence of the heterogeneity of activity engagement across subpopulations of older adults. The first presentation addresses changes in patterns of activity engagement. This presentation provides description of changes in patterns of activity engagement and its relationship with cognition. The second presentation also employs the approach of identifying patterns of activity engagement in later life. This presentation focuses on longitudinal relationship between social engagement patterns and psychological well-being in relation to productive engagement. The third presentation provides empirical evidence of the longitudinal relationship between types of caregiving and levels of volunteering. This presentation also addresses gender difference in this relationship. The fourth presentation considers socio-demographic disparities in activity engagement. This presentation explores how activity patterns may vary by gender and race. In the research presented in this symposium, large representative data sets and state-of-the art statistical analyses are employed. In total, these four papers increase understanding about the interrelationships of various activities, change in activities over time, outcomes of activity engagement, and subgroup differences in activity. Given the central role of activity engagement in healthy aging, this symposium will advance theoretical and empirical knowledge on this important area of inquiry.