Marcela Kepicova ABD MA EdS LPC NCC Changes in Leisure Activity Involvement in Widowed Older Adults Revitalizing Lives through Volunteering PhD in Counselor Education Program Montclair State University ID: 443563
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Presenter:Marcela Kepicova, ABD, MA, EdS, LPC, NCC
Changes in Leisure Activity Involvement in Widowed Older Adults:Revitalizing Lives through Volunteering
Ph.D. in Counselor Education Program
Montclair State UniversitySlide2
Objectives for Today’s Discussion
Define older adult (OA) retirees and the challenges and strengths associated with this populationIdentify widowed vs non-widowed OADescribe transition – spousal loss and grieving process
Compare widowed and non-widowed in terms of their health and functioningHighlight gender differences Discuss the importance of proactive intervention and effective strategies to improve life after spousal lossSlide3
Older Adults (OA) in the US in 2010
Age 65 and older13 % of the total population (40.3 million)20 % of the total population (88.5 million) -projected OA population in 20509 % of OA lived in poverty
9.1 million were veterans of the armed forces16.1 % were in labor force in 2010 21.3 % earned a bachelor’s degree or higherOlder Adults (85-94) fastest growing population (3.9 million to 5.1)18 % of OA live in Florida ( West Virginia, Maine, Pennsylvania, Iowa)
http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf
>Slide4
Diversity in AO
80 % White 8.3 % Black/AA 7 % Hispanic 3.3 % Asian 0.5 % Native American57% married27 % widowed
90 males per 100 females 65 and older (in 1990: 82 males per 100 females)58 males per 100 females 85 and older (in 1900: 45 males per 100 females)Slide5
Marital StatusSlide6
Life-Span Developmental Gain and Loss
Adults aged 65 and above who identify as retiredPhysicalCognitiveSocialEmotionalExistentialStrengthsSlide7
Work and Meaning in LifeHaving more meaning has been positively associated with work enjoyment (Bonebright, Clay, & Ankenmann, 2000)
Meaning in life is also positively correlated with life satisfaction (Chamberlain & Zika, 1988)Establishing meaning through work or volunteer activities canbolster self-esteemincrease self-efficacy
establish a greater sense of independenceprovide opportunities for interpersonal connectionsSlide8
Importance of Life Themes
Human beings spend a majority of their lives working, making meaning of their work, and establishing satisfying life through work and social connections (Blustein, 2006)
OAs that engage in post-retirement work or volunteering report more positive levels of mental well-being than those who do not work or volunteer (Schwingel, A., Niti, M.M.,& Pin Ng, T., 2009)Slide9
Life Satisfaction: Contributing FactorsHealth (physical and/or psychological)
Marital statusSocial SupportWork/Leisure activitiesHigh Level of Life ChangesReligion/SpiritualityHope Slide10
Spousal Loss In Older AdulthoodThe death of a spouse
: one of the most common and stressful negative live event (10 million OA widowed)Grieving Process/Adaptation to LossWidowed OAs came closest to complete adaptation to their loss and returned to pre-loss levels of happiness by the eight year of widowhood(Lucas et al., 2003)
Bereavement has been associated with affecting widows’:Physical healthMental healthSocial functioning EconomicsSlide11
Widowed vs Non-widowed OAsWidowed OAs have:
Lower levels of psychological well-beingHigher levels of depressive symptomsLower levels of life satisfactionHigher level of grief and distress
More difficulties with physical abilities and socialization More deteriorating physical health Greater declines in social functioning(Arbuckle & de Vries, 1995; Chen at al., 1999; Hagedoorn et al., 2006; Wilcox et al., 2003)Slide12
What Can Improve Life of Widowed OAs?
Social supportIntimate attachmentEngaging in pleasant activitiesLeisure activities (physical, formal, informal)
Modality for experiencing positive emotions Positive context for adjustment after negative eventsAssociation between participation in activities and stress reduction Participation in leisure activities can have possible social and health benefits for OA(Janke
et al., 2008;
Kleiber
et al., 2002;
Lewinsohn
, 1975; Uchino et al., 1996)Slide13
Four Behavioral TypesPhone conversations,
walking, movies, museums, exhibitions, vacations, music, restaurants, taking courses and reading books, Expanders
ReducersConcentratorsDiffusers(Nimrod, G. Janke, M.C., Kleiber, D. A. (2009). Expanding, Reducing, Concentrating and Diffusing: Activity patterns of Recent Retirees in the United States. Leisure Sciences, 31, 37-52)Slide14
Definitions
Expenders: OAs who participate in a large number of activities at a higher frequencyReducers: OAs who participate in the same or in a fewer activities at the same or lower frequencyConcentrators:
OAs who participate in the same or in a fewer activities, but at the higher frequencyDiffusers: OAs who participate in a large number of activities but at the same or at a lower frequencySlide15
Expenders35% of the respondents
significantly higher life satisfaction than reducersHigher SESGood healthHighly participating in activitiesSlide16
Reducers43 % of the respondents
Less educationLower SESMore health problemsMinimal participation in activitiesSlide17
Concentrators11% of the respondents
Significantly higher life satisfaction than reducersHigher level of educationGood health Financially stable Slide18
Diffusers11% of the respondents
Life satisfaction did not differ from the rest of the sampleRelatively high level of educationFair financial situationFair healthHighly participating in activities Slide19
Gender Differences in Widowed OAs
Continuity Theory – OAs tend to continue some types of activities in later life or after retirement The pattern of participation in leisure activities might change after a spousal loss (lost partner with whom one can participate)
Gender factorMen and Women are often involved in different types of leisure activities across the lifespanSlide20
Gender Differences In Widowed OAs-cont
participate more in social and formal leisure activities report more barriers to leisure participationreport
more social anxiety, have higher levels of depressive symptomshave lower levels of self-efficacy,are more likely to share their emotions
are
more confident about their social contacts and support
participate more in physical activities,
report
high levels of psychological disturbance and
r
eport more depressive
symptoms which leads to failure to
cope
d
o not share their emotions
a
re not very confident about their social contacts and support
Women
MenSlide21
Changes in Leisure activities in Widowed OAs
40% of OAs after spousal loss continued to participate in visiting or talking with friends and family members33% of OAs continued to participate in sports or exerciseMajority of OAs continued (40%) or increased (20%) participation in religious activities, and outdoors activities
Those who ceased participation in leisure activities reported higher levels of depressive symptomsWidowers report more functional impairment, less involvement in visiting and talking activities, less involvement in sports and religious activities then widowsSlide22
Interventions
Proactive Approach/Primary PreventionReaching out and educating health care professional ( e.g., physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, senior centers, etc.)Strategies when working with widowed OAsPsychoeducation
Life Circle ActivityThen and Now ActivityWork Graph Activity Career DiamondWraparound Approach Widowed OAHealth care professionalFamily members
Community members
Religious representatives Slide23
Then and Now Activity
Computer/internet 5XweekHiking 2XweekTV 7XweekTime with children 1Xweek
Computer/internet 7XweekHiking 4XweekTV 7XweekTime with children 3XweekDining out 1XweekDancing 1Xweek
PAST
PresentSlide24
Life Portions: PresentSlide25
Life Portions: FutureSlide26
Career Diamond
Illustrates basic movement of career develop processSlide27
Questions?