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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 University

Objectives for Today’s Discussion

Define older adult (OA) retirees and the challenges and strengths associated with this population

Identify

w

idowed vs non-widowed OA

Describe transition – spousal loss and grieving process

Compare

widowed

and

non-widowed

in terms of their health and functioning

Highlight gender differences

Discuss the importance of proactive intervention and effective strategies to improve life after spousal loss

Older Adults (OA) in the US in 2010

Age 65 and older

13 % of the total population (40.3 million)

20 % of the total population (88.5 million) -

projected OA population in 2050

9 % of OA lived in poverty

9.1 million were veterans of the armed forces

16.1 % were in labor force in 2010

21.3 % earned a bachelor’s degree or higher

Older 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

>

Diversity in AO

80 % White

8.3 % Black/AA

7 % Hispanic

3.3 % Asian

0.5 % Native American

57% married

27 % 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)

Marital Status

Life-Span Developmental Gain and Loss

Adults aged 65 and above who identify as retiredPhysicalCognitiveSocialEmotionalExistentialStrengths

Work and Meaning in Life

Having 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 can

bolster self-esteem

increase self-efficacy

establish a greater sense of independence

provide opportunities for interpersonal connections

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)

Life Satisfaction: Contributing Factors

Health (physical and/or psychological)

Marital status

Social Support

Work/Leisure activities

High Level of Life Changes

Religion/Spirituality

Hope

Spousal Loss In Older Adulthood

The death of a spouse

: one of the most common and stressful negative live event (10 million OA widowed)

Grieving Process/Adaptation to Loss

Widowed 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 health

Mental health

Social functioning

E

conomics

Widowed vs Non-widowed OAs

Widowed OAs have:

Lower levels of psychological well-being

Higher levels of depressive symptoms

Lower levels of life satisfaction

Higher 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)

What Can Improve Life of Widowed OAs?

Social

support

Intimate

attachment

Engaging in pleasant activities

Leisure activities (physical, formal, informal)

Modality for experiencing positive emotions

P

ositive context for adjustment after negative events

Association 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)

Four Behavioral Types

Phone conversations, walking, movies, museums, exhibitions, vacations, music, restaurants, taking courses and reading books, ExpandersReducersConcentratorsDiffusers(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)

Definitions

Expenders:

OAs who participate in a large number of activities at a higher frequency

Reducers

:

OAs who participate in the same or in a fewer activities at the same or lower frequency

Concentrators:

OAs who participate in the same or in a fewer activities, but at the higher frequency

Diffusers:

OAs who participate in a large number of activities but at the same or at a lower frequency

Expenders

35% of the respondentssignificantly higher life satisfaction than reducersHigher SESGood healthHighly participating in activities

Reducers

43 % of the respondentsLess educationLower SESMore health problemsMinimal participation in activities

Concentrators

11% of the respondentsSignificantly higher life satisfaction than reducersHigher level of educationGood health Financially stable

Diffusers

11% of the respondentsLife satisfaction did not differ from the rest of the sampleRelatively high level of educationFair financial situationFair healthHighly participating in activities

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 factor

Men and Women are often involved in different types of leisure activities across the lifespan

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 report more depressive symptoms which leads to failure to copedo not share their emotionsare not very confident about their social contacts and support

Women

Men

Changes in Leisure activities in Widowed OAs

40% of OAs after spousal loss continued to participate in visiting or talking with friends and family members

33% of OAs continued to participate in sports or exercise

Majority 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 symptoms

Widowers

report more functional impairment, less involvement in visiting and talking activities, less involvement in sports and religious activities then widows

Interventions

Proactive Approach/Primary Prevention

Reaching out and educating health care professional ( e.g., physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, senior centers, etc.)

Strategies when working with widowed OAs

Psychoeducation

Life

C

ircle Activity

Then and Now Activity

Work Graph Activity

Career Diamond

Wraparound Approach

Widowed OA

Health care professional

Family members

Community members

Religious representatives

Then and Now Activity

Computer/internet 5XweekHiking 2XweekTV 7XweekTime with children 1Xweek

Computer/internet 7XweekHiking 4XweekTV 7XweekTime with children 3XweekDining out 1XweekDancing 1Xweek

PAST

Present

Life Portions: Present

Life Portions: Future

Career Diamond

Illustrates basic movement of career develop process

Questions?