Older adults' physical activity participation and perceptions of wellbeing: Examining the role of social support for leisure

Abstract

Recent nation-wide data on self-reported leisure-time physical inactivity reveals that about one third of the American population age 50 and over is sedentary. Several national organizations are promoting leisure-time physical activity among older adults as a strategy for this population to adapt to agerelated declines in mental and physical functioning and to improve their quality of life. Inferences from past research suggest that social support is significant in enabling older adults to achieve better health outcomes. Unfortunately, little is known about the relationship between health and wellbeing of older adults depending upon the amount and type of social support received for leisure activities, i.e., social support for leisure (SSL). In this study, we investigated the influence of SSL sources (family members, friends, and acquaintances) on physical activity levels and wellbeing, i.e., life satisfaction, stress, and health among older adults (age 50 and over). Study findings highlighted the importance of support from friends for increasing leisure and recreational physical activity participation among older adults. Findings revealed that both family and friends' support for leisure had positive effects on older adults' perception of wellbeing. Another important finding in this study was the positive relationship between family social support for leisure and the respondents' life-satisfaction levels.

Measuring the impact of social network and social support on health and quality of the life of the elderly

“…Upitnik socijalne podrške (Social support questionnaire -SSQ6), (5) 2. Skala socijalne podrške za procenu sadržaja i načina korišćenja slobodnog vremena (Social support for leisure -SSL), (6) 3. Skala socijalne podrške za vežbanje (Social Support for Exercise Behaviors Scale), (6) 4.…”

“…Indeks zadvoljstva života (Life Satisfaction Index -LSI-A), (18) 3. Samoprocena zadovoljstva životom (Satisfaction with Life Scale), (6) Socijalna mreža i socijalna podrška Karakteristike socijalne mreže mere se u funkciji socijalne podrške, najčešće da bi se sagledao izvor relevantne podrške. Kroz fizičko postojanje mreže i njenu intaktnost i iskustva u komunikaciji procenjuje se percepcija socijalne podrške.Kroz komunikacije u mreži meri se instrumentalna (materijalna) podrška.…”

“…6 Za merenje zdravstveno relevantnog kvaliteta života ranije su se često koristili Notigem zdravstveni profil (Vare), Profil uticaja bolesti (Bergner), koji se u novije vreme zamenjuju kratkim upitnikom za istraživanje zdravlja (SF-12, SF-36).…”

“…6 -Skala socijalne podrške za vežbanje (Social Support for Exercise Behaviors Scale); predstavlja matematički izraz odgovora ispitanika na 12 pitanja koja se odnosi na podršku porodice i prijatelja vrednovanih na šestostepenoj Likertovoj skali). 6 -Percepcija emotivne podrške procenjuje se dostupnošću poverljivih osoba sa kojima se može diskutovati o intimnim i ličnim stvarima, koje mogu biti oslonac u svakoj životnoj situaciji.…”

“…6 -Skala socijalne podrške za vežbanje (Social Support for Exercise Behaviors Scale); predstavlja matematički izraz odgovora ispitanika na 12 pitanja koja se odnosi na podršku porodice i prijatelja vrednovanih na šestostepenoj Likertovoj skali). 6 -Percepcija emotivne podrške procenjuje se dostupnošću poverljivih osoba sa kojima se može diskutovati o intimnim i ličnim stvarima, koje mogu biti oslonac u svakoj životnoj situaciji. 7 -Revidirana UCLA Skala usamljenosti (The Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale), razvijena na Univerzitetu Kalifornije, Los Andjeles, ima 20 aitema koji vrednuju mere opšte usamljenosti i osećaja socijalne izolacije kao parametra (nedostajuće) socijalne podrške.…”