Relationship of activity and social support to the functional health of older adults

Objectives. According to J. W. Rowe and R. L. Kahn (1997), successful aging is the combination of low probability of disease, high functioning, and ac tive engagement with life. The purpose of this study was to assess the rela tionship between active engagement with life and functioning in a convenien ce sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 244 members of an organization for older adults were mailed a survey containing the Activity Checklist and the Social Support Inventory as measures of engagement with life and the SF-12 Health Survey as a measure of functioning. Results. Hierarchical linear regression showed that maintenance of instrume ntal, social, and high-demand leisure activities was associated with higher physical health scores and maintenance of low-demand leisure activities wa s associated with lower physical health scores. Maintenance of low-demand l eisure activities was associated with higher mental health scores. Discussion. If changes in potentially modifiable risk factors such as activ ity are associated with the beginning of functional decline, early interven tion may be possible before disability ensues, thus reducing the risk of di sability and ultimately health care costs.