The Impact Of Leisure Activities On Older Adults Cognitive Function, Physical Function, And Mental Health
ANSWERS
It has been suggested that leisure activities are highly advantageous for elderly people. Such actions are intended to support successful aging in older persons by preserving cognitive function, physical function, and mental health. We examined the effect of leisure activities on these dimensions in a sizable sample of older Japanese adults (N = 809; age range 72-74) using structural equation modeling (SEM). Participating in leisure activities was positively correlated with each of the three effective aging indicators, demonstrating a model with an excellent fit (CFI = 1). These results expand the applicability of earlier Western-based studies to the demographic of older individuals in the East. These correlational findings imply that older persons can preserve their cognitive, physical, and mental health by actively participating in leisure activities. Future studies will determine whether there is a causal link between leisure activity participation and successful aging.
The term “leisure activities” (LA) refers to pursuits carried out during free time. In late adulthood and the elderly, participation in LAs is favorably correlated with cognitive function, physical function, and mental health. Thus, research into the potential preventive effects of LA involvement against aging-related decrease has been going on for the past 20 years.
Preserved cognitive function has drawn the most attention of these three outcomes, and there is strong evidence linking it to older adults’ participation in LA. Three theories have explained the observed correlation between cognitive function and LA engagement. First, engaging in mentally demanding activities may improve cognitive performance (such as music, board games, computer games, and brain training). However, the general population has not given this theory much reliable empirical evidence. Second, those with better available cognitive function may be more likely to participate in cognitively demanding LAs. Numerous chess and music-related investigations have supported this idea. Lastly, participating in intellectually challenging LAs may delay cognitive degeneration. This theory is based on the so-called “use it or lose it” hypothesis, which states that participating in mentally taxing activities as we age helps maintain cognitive function. Studies using dual-change methodologies to investigate the causal relationship between LA engagement and retained cognitive performance lends some credence to this idea.
The relationship between LA involvement and physical function has received less research than between LA engagement and cognitive function. Most studies have concentrated on the detrimental consequences of illness and accidents on LA involvement. Reduced LA engagement negatively impacts mental health markers, including happiness and life satisfaction. Therefore, the field has focused more on how physical function affects LA involvement than the opposite. The impact of exercise and LAs (as independent factors) on cognitive performance has been the subject of additional research.
QUESTION
The Impact Of Leisure Activities On Older Adults Cognitive Function, Physical Function, And Mental Health
review, summarize and critique the attached article
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