Toepoel Vera
Department of Leisure Studies, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Soc Indic Res. 2013 Aug;113(1):355-372. doi: 10.1007/s11205-012-0097-6. Epub 2012 Jun 13.
This study investigates the relation between leisure activities and the social status of the elderly based on a heterogeneous sample of the Dutch population. Close relationships are also analyzed to identify which people could serve as successful stimulators of leisure participation. The social profile confirms that older people have fewer social contacts and often feel lonely. This study shows that leisure activities explain a significant part of older people's social connectedness. Voluntary work, cultural activities, holiday, sports, reading books, hobbies and shopping are found to be successful predictors for social connectedness of older people. Watching TV, listening to the radio, and spending time behind the computer (passive activities) were not associated with social connectedness. Friends correlate positively to participation in leisure activities. Partners play a role in participation in cultural activities and sports; parents play a role in participation in voluntary work and holidays; siblings play a role in voluntary work and sports; and children play a role in cultural activities, reading books, and shopping. Local communities can use these close relationships and develop special programs to increase social connectedness and hence improve quality of life for older adults.
本研究基于荷兰人口的异质样本，调查休闲活动与老年人社会地位之间的关系。同时分析亲密关系，以确定哪些人可以成为休闲参与的成功促进者。社会概况证实，老年人的社交联系较少，且常常感到孤独。本研究表明，休闲活动在很大程度上解释了老年人的社会联系。志愿工作、文化活动、度假、运动、读书、爱好和购物被发现是老年人社会联系的成功预测因素。看电视、听广播以及在电脑前消磨时间（被动活动）与社会联系无关。朋友与休闲活动的参与呈正相关。伴侣在文化活动和运动的参与中发挥作用；父母在志愿工作和度假的参与中发挥作用；兄弟姐妹在志愿工作和运动中发挥作用；而子女在文化活动、读书和购物中发挥作用。当地社区可以利用这些亲密关系，制定特别项目，以增强社会联系，从而提高老年人的生活质量。
