The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Nov 2001
Does engagement with life enhance survival of elderly people in Sweden? The role of social and leisure activities.
This research examined whether engagement with life, defined as involvement in social, leisure, and productive activities, produced a survival advantage among oldest old persons in Sweden. Survival was investigated with respect to activities that involved (a) social integration, (b) physical mobility, and (c) neither social nor physical aspects. The authors also investigated the degree to which any observed survival benefits were related to prior health differences that select older adults into active roles. ⋯ Although most of the observed associations between activity involvement and survival are a byproduct of the confound between poor initial health and low activity levels, solitary activities have a positive influence on the survival of very old individuals, especially men, suggesting that nonsocial aspects of activities may promote health and longevity in late old age.