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Is Social Participation Associated with Successful Aging among Older Canadians? Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

Author

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  • Mabel Ho

    (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada
    Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada)

  • Eleanor Pullenayegum

    (Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
    Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada)

  • Esme Fuller-Thomson

    (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada
    Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada)

Abstract

The present study examines various activities of social participation (i.e., church or religious activities; educational or cultural activities; service club or fraternal organization activities; neighbourhood, community, or professional association activities; volunteer or charity work; and recreational activities) as contributing factors to successful aging. Successful aging in this study includes the following: adequate social support, no limitations with respect to Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), no mental illness in the preceding year, no serious cognitive decline or pain that prevents activity, as well as high levels of happiness, and self-reports of good physical health, mental health, and successful aging. Methods: The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, longitudinal study on aging. A secondary analysis of the baseline (i.e., 2011–2015) and Time 2 (i.e., 2015–2018) data of the CLSA was conducted on a sample of 7623 older adults who were defined as “aging successfully” at baseline and were aged 60+ at Time 2. Binary logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the association between engaging in various social participation activities at baseline and aging successfully at Time 2. Results: In a subsample (n = 7623) of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Comprehensive Cohort who were aging successfully at baseline, the prevalence of successful aging at Time 2 was significantly higher among the participants who participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities compared to those who were not involved in these activities. After adjusting for 22 potential factors, the results of the binary logistic regression analyses reported that participants who, at baseline, participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities had higher age–sex-adjusted odds of achieving successful aging (volunteer or charity work: aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.33; recreational activities: aOR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.32). Conclusions: Among six types of social participation activities, people who participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities were more likely to achieve successful aging than their counterparts who did not engage in these activities. If these associations are found to be causal, policies and interventions encouraging older adults to participate in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities may support older adults to achieve successful aging in later life.

Suggested Citation

  • Mabel Ho & Eleanor Pullenayegum & Esme Fuller-Thomson, 2023. "Is Social Participation Associated with Successful Aging among Older Canadians? Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:12:p:6058-:d:1164865
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qiushi Feng & Paulin Tay Straughan, 2017. "What Does Successful Aging Mean? Lay Perception of Successful Aging Among Elderly Singaporeans," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(2), pages 204-213.
    2. Santini, Ziggi Ivan & Jose, Paul E. & Koyanagi, Ai & Meilstrup, Charlotte & Nielsen, Line & Madsen, Katrine R. & Koushede, Vibeke, 2020. "Formal social participation protects physical health through enhanced mental health: A longitudinal mediation analysis using three consecutive waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in E," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    3. Mabel Ho & Eleanor Pullenayegum & David Burnes & Esme Fuller-Thomson, 2022. "Successful Aging among Immigrant and Canadian-Born Older Adults: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Tina ten Bruggencate & Katrien G. Luijkx & Janienke Sturm, 2019. "Friends or Frenemies? The Role of Social Technology in the Lives of Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-15, December.
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