Association between leisure activities and subjective memory complaints in older adults: A cross-sectional study

This study examines the relationship between leisure activities and subjective memory complaints (SMC) in retired older adults, emphasizing the mediating role of working memory. A cross-sectional design was employed with 540 adults aged 60 and older. Leisure activities, encompassing both physical and cognitive domains, were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Cognitive Activity Scale. Both physical and cognitive activities were found to be significantly negatively associated with SMC. High levels of engagement in these activities were associated with reduced SMC. Cognitive activity demonstrated a particularly strong protective effect among individuals with low physical activity levels. Structural equation modeling indicated that working memory partially mediated the relationship between leisure activities and SMC, with a stronger mediating effect observed for physical activity. These findings underscore the importance of promoting physical leisure activities to enhance cognitive health and reduce SMC in older adults.