Contribution of Generative Leisure Activities to Cognitive Function in Elderly Sri Lankan Adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVES Although a substantive body of research has shown a protective association between leisure activities and cognitive function, consistent evidence is lacking about which specific types of activities should be promoted. The objective of this analysis was to examine the unique contribution of generative leisure activities, defined as activities motivated by “a concern for others and a need to contribute something to the next generation” (Erikson). DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Peri-urban and rural area in southern Sri Lanka. PARTICIPANTS Community dwelling adults aged 60+ (n=252). MEASUREMENTS Main predictors were leisure activities grouped into generative, social, or solitary. Main outcome was cognitive function assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE). RESULTS We found that more frequent engagement in generative leisure activities was associated with higher levels of cognitive function, independent of the impact of other social and solitary leisure activities. In a fully adjusted model combining all three leisure activities, generative activities independently predicted cognitive function as measured with the MoCA (β =0.47 (0.11 to 0.83) and the IQCODE (β = -0.81 (-1.54 to -0.09)). In this combined model, solitary activities were also independently associated with slower cognitive decline with the MoCA (β =0.40 (0.16, 0.64), but not with IQCODE (β =-0.38 (-0.88, 0.12)); the association with social activities did not reach statistical significance with either measure. These associations did not differ meaningfully by gender. CONCLUSION Generative leisure activities are a promising area for the development of interventions aimed at reducing cognitive decline among the elderly.

Generative concern; a promising health promotion component for well-being of the elderly in Galle, Sri Lanka

“…In this study, a slightly higher mean score of generative concern in Sri Lankan elders, compared to such figures in elders in other countries was observed (14,16,21). The findings also indicate that gender and age are not related to generative concern.…”

“…The findings also indicate that gender and age are not related to generative concern. Chronic diseases that become more prevalent with increasing age may bar senior elders being generative (16,23). However, the observed difference of generative concern of elders in this population setting may be due to their active life style.…”

“…Social security benefits available for them are limited (9). As a result many elders may have opportunities for meaningful generative activities (16,21). As seen in many other countries, women outlive men in Sri Lanka.…”

“…This would result gender based health disparities in senior elders where women being highly subjected to suffer from chronic diseases. However, Sri Lankan older women's feeling of obligation to serve as their family's primary caregiver and active life style may stimulate them to develop generative concern and actions (4,16). Factors such as less education and poverty have shown to impede elder's access to generative activities (23).…”

“…The required sample size was calculated using the figure of the anticipated population mean score of the Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS) as 40 (SD = 10) as indicated by a previous research (16). Thus, the minimum sample size required to estimate the mean LGS with the margin of error as 2 with 95% confidence was 96.…”