Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
 		Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Cited by other online articles
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Everard, K. M.
Right arrow Articles by Baum, M. C.
Right arrow Articles citing this Article
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Everard, K. M.
Right arrow Articles by Baum, M. C.
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 55:S208-S212 (2000)
© 2000 The Gerontological Society of America

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Relationship of Activity and Social Support to the Functional Health of Older Adults

Kelly M. Everarda,c, Helen W. Lachb, Edwin B. Fishera and M. Carolyn Baumc

a Division of Health Behavior Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
b Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
c Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

Kelly M. Everard, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Box 8505, St. Louis, MO 63108 E-mail: keverard{at}ot-link.wustl.edu.

Objectives. According to J. W. Rowe and R. L. Kahn (1997), successful aging is the combination of low probability of disease, high functioning, and active engagement with life. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between active engagement with life and functioning in a convenience sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older.

Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 244 members of an organization for older adults were mailed a survey containing the Activity Checklist and the Social Support Inventory as measures of engagement with life and the SF-12 Health Survey as a measure of functioning.

Results. Hierarchical linear regression showed that maintenance of instrumental, social, and high-demand leisure activities was associated with higher physical health scores and maintenance of low-demand leisure activities was associated with lower physical health scores. Maintenance of low-demand leisure activities was associated with higher mental health scores.

Discussion. If changes in potentially modifiable risk factors such as activity are associated with the beginning of functional decline, early intervention may be possible before disability ensues, thus reducing the risk of disability and ultimately health care costs.




This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)


Home page
 Diabetes CareHome page
Y.-F. Kuo, M. A. Raji, M. K. Peek, and J. S. Goodwin
Health-Related Social Disengagement in Elderly Diabetic Patients: Association with subsequent disability and survival
Diabetes Care, July 1, 2004; 27(7): 1630 - 1637.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Epidemiol.Home page
C. F. Mendes de Leon, T. A. Glass, and L. F. Berkman
Social Engagement and Disability in a Community Population of Older Adults: The New Haven EPESE
Am. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2003; 157(7): 633 - 642.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc SciHome page
V. H. Menec
The Relation Between Everyday Activities and Successful Aging: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2003; 58(2): S74 - 82.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Copyright © 2000 by The Gerontological Society of America.