Promoting Older Women's Health and Well-Being Through Social Leisure Environments: What We Have Learned from the Red Hat Society®

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the ways that participation in a leisure organization contributed to the health and wellbeing of middle-aged and older women. We analyzed 1,693 members' responses to a query about meaningful experiences garnered through participation in the Red Hat Society. Results suggested that older women's lives have been enriched and changed by their experiences, with the women in this study citing multiple psychosocial health benefits from their participation in the Red Hat Society. Main themes encapsulating these health benefits were creating happy moments, responding to transitions and negative events, and enhancing the self. These findings are related to research on positive psychology, social support and coping, transformative leisure processes, and social identity formation. We conclude by providing suggestions for applying these findings to leisure and health promotion programming to enhance women's health and well-being in later life.

The Playful Advantage: How Playfulness Enhances Coping with Stress

“…In addition to these benefits for younger populations, playful behaviors have been shown to predict numerous health related outcomes among older adults (Lindstrom et al, 2005;Singh-Manoux, Richards, & Marmot, 2003;Son, Kerstetter, Yarnal, & Baker, 2007). With the Baby Boomer population approaching retirement age, further investigation is needed into what contributes to and sustains healthy aging.…”

Self-Esteem of Adult Women Living in a Peripheral Area of São Paolo City, Brazil

“…Older adult women who were practicing leisure activities showed higher SE and selfconfidence scores. Therefore, health status and well-being can be promoted through practice of leisure activities (Son, Kerstetter, Yarnal, & Baker, 2007). Recreational activities, in addition to other factors, are essential for relaxing and for physical and mental wellness (Ohtsu et al, 2012).…”

Performing the ‘fun’ self: How members of the Red Hat Society negotiate cultural discourses of femininity and ageing

“…Their studies address the RHS's relation with play (Yarnal, 2006;Yarnal et al, 2008), dress-up (Yarnal et al, 2011), conspicuous consumption (Stalp et al, 2009), and older women's psychosocial health and well-being (Hutchinson et al, 2008;Radina et al, 2008;Son et al, 2007).…”

“…Research in which the RHS is approached as a coping mechanism for changing life conditions, starts from the assumption that as women grow older they are often confronted with high levels of stress, due to, for instance, the loss of social relations, the death of spouses, illness or social isolation (Hutchinson et al, 2008;Son et al, 2007), but also as a result of a negative stereotyping of older women in society .…”