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Leisure Participation and Enjoyment Among the Elderly: Individual Characteristics and Sociability

Publisher: 
Educational Gerontology
Author: 
Su-Yen Chen and Yang-Chih Fu
Date published: 
3 November, 2008
Region: 
International

Publication type: 
research

Using data from a national survey of adults in Taiwan, this study explored how often older adults participate in and how much they enjoy 2 mostly-solitary leisure activities (reading books and watching TV/DVDs/videos) and 2 mostly-social leisure activities (socializing with friends and engaging in physical activities). According to ordinal regression analyses of these 4 dependent variables, individual characteristics (such as age, health, education level, and rural/urban residence) significantly contributed to older adults' leisure participation and enjoyment. More importantly, such participation and enjoyment also varied by the extent of sociability (social contacts, a preference for being with others, and a desire for making friends through leisure activities).

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