Loneliness, boredom, and leisure in later life: associations with well-being

The prevalence of both loneliness and boredom among older adults is high, and a significant association between these constructs has been identified. In this study, we investigate whether engagement in leisure activities moderates the relationship between boredom, loneliness, and emotional well-being in older adults.

We used data from the 2022 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 551, age 50+). Leisure was assessed in terms of overall leisure repertoire (e.g., number of leisure activities), engagement frequency, and 7 types/categories of leisure. Correlations and linear regression models were used to examine associations and test for direct and moderating effects of the variables of interest.

Findings demonstrated that boredom and loneliness both independently and interactively predicted lower positive affect and higher negative affect, underscoring their amplifying and compensatory roles. In contrast, frequent participation in leisure activities-particularly hobbies, volunteering, and involvement in community organizations-emerged as significant predictors of positive affect, while having a larger leisure repertoire conferred limited benefit. Notably, findings suggest that engagement quality and activity frequency were more salient for well-being than the breadth of leisure interests.

The findings highlight the complex mechanisms by which leisure participation may mitigate the adverse effects of boredom and loneliness, with implications for the design of leisure education programs and community interventions targeting psychological well-being among aging populations. Promoting meaningful, regular leisure participation is recommended to enhance emotional health and reduce social isolation and loneliness in later life.