Citation

Keith PM. Activ. Adapt. Aging 1981; 1(1): 67-75.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J016v01n01_09

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Life changes may precipitate a social breakdown syndrome among the aged in which persons eventually accept a label as incompetent and define themselves as sick or inadequate. But involvement in leisure activities may intervene in the cycle and promote reconstruction. Data are analyzed from interviews with 214 men and 354 women, 72 years of age or older, to examine: (a) the influence of life changes on involvement in leisure activities; (b) the impact of involvement on psychological well-being; (3) sex differences in the impact of leisure activities of the aged. Life changes do not seem to trigger withdrawal from most leisure activities. But leiwre involvement in old age is somewhat sex-linked and participation differentially influences the well-being of men and women. Implications for practitioners are explored.