Television Viewing, Physical Activity, and Loneliness in Late Life

Television viewing is the most common leisure activity in late life and may ease loneliness but encourage sedentary behavior. These associations may be particularly evident among older adults who live alone and who may lack other forms of companionship throughout the day.

Adults aged 65+ (N = 257) participated, of whom 34% lived alone. Participants completed an initial interview followed by a 5- to 6-day data collection involving multimethods: (a) Electronically Activated Recorders (30 s every 7 min) provided audio recordings of television viewing, (b) Actical accelerometers objectively measured physical activity, and (c) ecological momentary assessments every 3 hr assessed social interactions.

On average, older adults spent approximately 37% of their waking time (6.4 hr a day) watching television. Multilevel models revealed that television viewing occurred when participants were alone or with a spouse and was associated with a greater proportion of time sedentary, lower activity, and higher ratings of loneliness compared to when not watching television. Older adults who lived alone reported greater loneliness during 3-hr intervals when viewing television, but older adults who lived with others spent a greater proportion of time sedentary when viewing television.

Findings are discussed with regard to different rationales and ways of watching television-as compensation for social isolation or as a passive leisure activity with a social partner. We discuss ideas for research on additional aspects of television viewing and screen time in late life.