ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION AND WELL-BEING AMONG OLDER-PEOPLE WITH ARTHRITIS

This study tests the hypotheses that (a) severity of arthritis is inve rsely associated with frequency of activity participation, and (b) art hritis sufferers who maintain higher levels of participation, particul arly in activities which are social in nature, are less likely to expe rience a decline in well-being. Three activity types are considered: s ocial, physical, and solitary. Results indicate that well-being is inf luenced by social activity, whereas solitary and physical activity hav e minimal impact. This suggests that elders with arthritis need not re move themselves from the pursuit of activity and should be encouraged to develop new interests when physical functioning fails. The study al so demonstrates the utility of considering activity as multidimensiona l.