Gender-related differences in the relationship between social and activity participation and health and subjective well-being in later life

Dury, Sarah; Stas, Lara; Switsers, Lise; Duppen, Daan; Domènech‐Abella, Joan; Dierckx, Eva; Donder, Liesbeth De

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113668

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Intuitively, the fact that more women than men participated in the survey can be attributed to gender differences in helping behavior, given the reality of sex-differentiated social roles. Previous research has demonstrated that older women are more involved in household activities and in helping others than older men, who seem to be more engaged outside the home, for example with sports and socially oriented activities (eating out) ( Dury et al, 2021 ; Li et al, 2011 ). For these reasons, a selection effect may be possible and could explain the overrepresentation of women in our sample.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helping Behavior of Older Adults during the Early COVID-19 Lockdown in Belgium

et al. 2022

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This study aimed to understand whether older adults not only received but also provided help during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Belgium, which factors motivated them to help, and whether older adults differed from younger age groups in terms of helping behavior and motives. Bivariate analyses were performed using data generated from an online cross-sectional survey in Belgium ( N = 1892). The results showed that older adults who received help also provided it. This “interdependence” – mutual or reciprocal dependence – occurred regardless of age. In terms of motives for providing help, both older adults and their younger peers were primarily motivated by present-oriented and emotion-related motivation: older people were motivated to provide help by altruistic values and humanism, and enhancement motives linked to self-development. Policy implications of these results entail: during crisis situations, make use of the bond between older adults and their neighbors, such as caring communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helping Behavior of Older Adults during the Early COVID-19 Lockdown in Belgium

et al. 2022

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“…The context in which PA takes place and displays are necessary to have a full understanding of PA by unfolding the interplay with broader social, structural, and cultural environment, also known as the ecological variables. At the microlevel, PA in older age has been found to reduce risks to develop chronic diseases, as well as physical and cognitive functional decline [ 19 ]. It has also been found to increase life satisfaction, quality of life, and the satisfaction with the ageing process of individuals (e.g., [ 20 , 21 ]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity during the Retirement Transition of Men and Women: A Qualitative Longitudinal Study

Socci

Santini

Dury

et al. 2021

BioMed Research International

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The retirement transition is a major life change affecting people’s lifestyles and behaviors, including those in relation to physical activity (PA), which is a key component of active ageing. Previous research analyzing the effect of retirement on PA levels has shown mixed results, and few studies investigated this issue in a gender perspective, thus, highlighting a need of knowledge in this respect. Aims of this study focused on the experience of PA during the retirement transition were to understand typologies of PA and possible changes in these typologies, to identify behavioural types relative to PA practice and levels, and to distinguish the main drivers and barriers for practicing PA associated with the different behavioural types. A further goal of the study was to investigate the abovementioned aims considering differences between women and men. Analyses were carried out within a three-year qualitative longitudinal study (2014-2016), which explored the individual experience of PA during the transition from work to retirement of 24 women and 16 men in Italy, with interviews carried out one year before and one and two years after retirement. Results show that preferred PA for both women and men was walking, along the transition to retirement. Over time, several participants replaced physically demanding activities with lighter ones. Six behavioural types were identified, describing individuals who incremented, started, or maintained the same level of PA, people who decreased PA levels or stopped it, and individuals who had a fluctuant behavior towards PA, or who had never practiced it. In general, poor health represented the main barrier to PA. For men, the main driver to PA was its effects on body shape, while for women, socialization/networking. In order to stimulate a more effective promotion of PA during the retirement transition, policy implications were discussed in light of the results obtained.

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“…Among older adults, belonging to a meaningful group after retirement can maintain physical activity and consequently bring greater long-term physical health benefits (7). Also, among people who are considered as being at increased risk of frailty, being socially active seems to be protective from health deterioration and also the decline of subjective well-being (8). In this study, we examine social activity from the perspective of personal social networks, which we understand as nodes of diverse social relations embedded in the everyday lives of older people.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personal Social Networks of Community-Dwelling Oldest Old During the Covid-19 Pandemic—A Qualitative Study

Kulmala

Tiilikainen

Lisko

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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The COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions have affected the everyday life of older people. Advanced age is a significant predisposing factor for a more severe COVID-19 infection, increasing the risk for hospitalization and mortality. Even though restrictions have been, thus, well-grounded, they may also have had detrimental effects on the social well-being of older people. Personal networks and social activity are known protective factors against the premature decline in health and functioning, and it is widely acknowledged that social isolation increases feelings of loneliness, poor quality of life, and even the risk for diseases and disabilities among older adults. This qualitative study investigated changes in personal networks among community-dwelling oldest-old individuals (persons aged 80 and over) during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland. The data is part of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE85+) study, which is an ongoing large longitudinal population-based study in Finland. In this qualitative sub-study, we analyzed fifteen in-depth telephone interviews using directed content analyses and identified five types of changes in personal social networks during the pandemic. In type 1, all social contacts were significantly reduced due to official recommendations and fear of the virus. Type 2 included modified ways of being socially active i.e., by deploying new technology, and in type 3, social contacts increased during the lockdown. In type 4, personal social networks were changed unexpectedly or dramatically due to a death of a spouse, for example. In type 5, we observed stable social networks, which had not been affected by the pandemic. At an individual level, one person could have had different types of changes during the pandemic. These results highlight the heterogeneity of the oldest olds' personal social networks and changes related to them during the exceptional times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social activity and personal networks play an important role in the well-being of the oldest old, but individual situations, needs, and preferences toward personal social networks should be taken into account when planning social activities, policies, and interventions.

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Gender-related differences in the relationship between social and activity participation and health and subjective well-being in later life

Cited by 25 publications

References 47 publications

Helping Behavior of Older Adults during the Early COVID-19 Lockdown in Belgium

Helping Behavior of Older Adults during the Early COVID-19 Lockdown in Belgium

Physical Activity during the Retirement Transition of Men and Women: A Qualitative Longitudinal Study

Personal Social Networks of Community-Dwelling Oldest Old During the Covid-19 Pandemic—A Qualitative Study

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