Trajectories of Older Adults' Leisure Time Activity and Functional Disability: a 12-Year Follow-Up

This study explored how changes in leisure time activities interplayed with changes in functional disability among Taiwanese older adults.

A parallel process and multiple-indicator latent growth curve modeling was adopted for analysis of the data. Longitudinal data from four waves of the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging, collected between 1996 and 2007, were used for analysis. Data included responses of 5451 older adults with a mean age of 67.16 years (SD = 2.51) in 1996.

Compared to baseline level of leisure time activities, increasing the rate of change in leisure time activities has more than three times the effect on slowing down the progression of functional disabilities. The baseline functional disabilities did not significantly predict the changes in leisure time activity participation.

Engagement in leisure time activity in later life is associated with a slower speed of progression toward functional disability. Early functional disability may not inhibit leisure time activity participation in later life.