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Leisure Consumption and well-Being among Older Adults: Does Age or Life Situation Matter?

Author

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  • Tiia Kekäläinen

    (University of Jyväskylä)

  • Terhi-Anna Wilska

    (University of Jyväskylä)

  • Katja Kokko

    (University of Jyväskylä)

Abstract

This study investigated the associations between leisure consumption and well-being in older adults (50–74 years old). To find out whether these associations are age-specific, they were compared with the associations observed among younger adults (18–49 years old). Differences between the older adults by age and life situation were also examined. This study was based on the “Finland 2014 – Consumption and Life style” survey (N = 1351), conducted among a representative sample of the Finnish adult population. Well-being was measured as mental, economic and physical well-being. Objects of leisure consumption were grouped by factor analysis, and the associations between the resulting leisure consumption factors and the dimensions of well-being were studied using regression analysis. In addition, interaction terms were used to compare differences in the associations between younger and older adults, and among older adults varying in their life situation. In the older adults, appearance was related to better mental well-being, literature & culture to better economic well-being, and exercise to better physical well-being. Travel was linked positively to all the dimensions of well-being, and health care negatively to mental and physical well-being. Some differences in the associations were observed between the younger and older adults; for example, exercise but not appearance was associated with better emotional well-being among the younger adults. In general, the associations were stronger in the older than younger adults. Among the older adults, age, employment status, and marital status moderated some associations. Further research, especially with longitudinal data, is needed to clarify the causal relationships between leisure consumption and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Tiia Kekäläinen & Terhi-Anna Wilska & Katja Kokko, 2017. "Leisure Consumption and well-Being among Older Adults: Does Age or Life Situation Matter?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(3), pages 671-691, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:12:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11482-016-9483-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-016-9483-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Chenhong Peng, 2023. "Household Consumption and the Discrepancy Between Economic and Subjective Poverty: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Social Status and Social Connectedness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1703-1727, June.
    3. Margo Hilbrecht & Steven E. Mock, 2019. "Low-Risk, Moderate-Risk, and Recreational Gambling Among Older Adults: Self-Complexity as a Buffer for Quality of Life," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(5), pages 1205-1227, November.
    4. Choung, Youngjoo & Pak, Tae-Young & Chatterjee, Swarn, 2021. "Consumption and Life Satisfaction: The Korean Evidence," MPRA Paper 115765, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Beata Bieszk-Stolorz & Krzysztof Dmytrów, 2023. "The Well-Being-Related Living Conditions of Elderly People in the European Union—Selected Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-18, December.

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