Abstract
Boredom is a concept that seems at odds with leisure, yet research on this topic indicates these constructs are often connected. Leisure boredom has been studied primarily among adolescents ...(Donati et al., 2019; Weybright et al., 2015). However, boredom is prevalent among older adults. Social isolation and loneliness often intertwine with boredom, and research suggests that prolonged boredom can negatively affect health and well-being (An et al, 2022; Goldberg et al., 2011). Yet, there is a dearth of research on this topic and existing literature typically examines adults’ functional status and disengagement or selective investment in leisure activities (Kleiber et al., 2008) rather than examining boredom more broadly. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the concept of boredom holistically in the context of leisure among community-dwelling older adults. The study used a multi-method approach utilizing focus groups and projective techniques of sentence completions and drawings. Forty-two older adults were recruited from senior centers and senior communities located in four western US cities. Thematic analysis with a six-step process outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006) was employed to analyze the data. Boredom was described as a personal state (e.g., negative self-perception, low energy and sensation/arousal, lacking motivation) and as activity-related emotions derived from unsatisfied/disengaged leisure participation. Participants also highlighted how life events and circumstances shaped their identity and contributed to boredom. Findings offered meaningful insights into how participants defined boredom, articulated causes of boredom, and strategies they use to alleviate boredom.
The purpose of this study was to examine how leisure involvement changes with the transition to widowhood and to determine if change in leisure involvement during this time has an impact on widows' ...physical and mental health. Adults age 50 and older who had transitioned into widowhood between Waves 1 and 2 or Waves 2 and 3 of the Americans' Changing Lives (ACL) dataset (N = 154) were included in the study. Results indicated that during this time widows experienced changes in their leisure repertoire (the types of leisure activities in which they participate), and the frequency of their leisure involvement. These changes in leisure behavior were associated with functional impairment, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction, as well as their ability to cope with the loss of their spouse. Findings were interpreted in terms of effective strategies that appear to be employed by widows in utilizing leisure activities following loss of a spouse.
The molecular determinants of clinical responses to decitabine therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are unclear.
We enrolled 84 adult patients with ...AML or MDS in a single-institution trial of decitabine to identify somatic mutations and their relationships to clinical responses. Decitabine was administered at a dose of 20 mg per square meter of body-surface area per day for 10 consecutive days in monthly cycles. We performed enhanced exome or gene-panel sequencing in 67 of these patients and serial sequencing at multiple time points to evaluate patterns of mutation clearance in 54 patients. An extension cohort included 32 additional patients who received decitabine in different protocols.
Of the 116 patients, 53 (46%) had bone marrow blast clearance (<5% blasts). Response rates were higher among patients with an unfavorable-risk cytogenetic profile than among patients with an intermediate-risk or favorable-risk cytogenetic profile (29 of 43 patients 67% vs. 24 of 71 patients 34%, P<0.001) and among patients with TP53 mutations than among patients with wild-type TP53 (21 of 21 100% vs. 32 of 78 41%, P<0.001). Previous studies have consistently shown that patients with an unfavorable-risk cytogenetic profile and TP53 mutations who receive conventional chemotherapy have poor outcomes. However, in this study of 10-day courses of decitabine, neither of these risk factors was associated with a lower rate of overall survival than the rate of survival among study patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetic profiles.
Patients with AML and MDS who had cytogenetic abnormalities associated with unfavorable risk, TP53 mutations, or both had favorable clinical responses and robust (but incomplete) mutation clearance after receiving serial 10-day courses of decitabine. Although these responses were not durable, they resulted in rates of overall survival that were similar to those among patients with AML who had an intermediate-risk cytogenetic profile and who also received serial 10-day courses of decitabine. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01687400 .).
The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a newly proposed scale, the Sport Facilitators in Later Life Scale (SFLLS). Based on empirical work, the authors developed a ...30-item scale to measure middle-aged and older adults' recreational sport facilitators, including items on municipal parks- and recreation-based facilitators. Among a national sample of 1207 adults aged 50 and older, factor analysis supported a three-factor structure of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural facilitators, with interpersonal facilitators as the principal factor. Alpha coefficients indicated good reliability of the subscales and total scale. Measurement invariance tests using multigroup CFA indicated strict scale equivalence by age, gender, education, retirement status, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Significant correlations and regressions provided further support for the validity of the scale. Additional scale refinement and psychometric testing should be undertaken to determine generalizability.
The number of individuals experiencing chronic conditions is on the rise, increasing the need for effective self-management strategies to promote their health and quality of life. This paper ...identifies how leisure education may complement and enhance skills considered necessary for appropriate self-management. To address this topic, detailed information about how leisure education was integrated into the existing Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) is provided, including a discussion of how the content covered in this CDSMP + Leisure Education program was developed and examples of this curriculum. Lessons learned from this project are discussed, and future directions and suggestions for the inclusion of leisure education in other self-management programmes are considered.
Abstract
This study examines types of facilitators, constraints, and constraint negotiation strategies and their associations with self-reported physical activity levels for older adults with ...arthritis. A national sample of U.S. adults (N=288; age range =50-85, M=64.8) who participated in a larger study of sport participation completed an online questionnaire on their involvement in leisure activities. The sample was predominantly White (91.3%), female (65.2%), and unmarried (55.6%). As expected, individuals reporting more constraints engaged in significantly less physical activity (β=-.19, p=.01) while those using greater constraint negotiation strategies reported significantly more activity engagement (β =.18, p=.03). Facilitators were examined (intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural), but only interpersonal facilitators significantly predicted greater levels of physical activity (β =-.07, p=.03). Adults reporting sport engagement during the past year were also more active (β =.24, p<.001). The discussion will focus on the implications of findings and how barriers to activity in this population can be addressed.
As the U.S. population ages, park and recreation (P&R) professionals face increasing demand to provide age-appropriate and health-promoting programming for older adults. Recent qualitative research ...suggests older adults are interested in participating in sport programs tailored to their age group. Using socioecological theory as the guiding framework, and leisure constraint theory specifically, the current study explored participation and interest in recreational sport among older adults across the U.S. and their perceptions of how local P&R agencies currently meet, or fail to meet, their needs. Data, collected in 2019 via a nationwide online survey completed by 1,203 adults aged 50 and over, provided insights into the current population of older adults who are diverse in terms of health status, amount of discretionary time, and interest/experience with sport. Although most participants suggested they do not regularly participate in recreational sport, approximately half indicated they would be interested to try a new sport if opportunities were available, and they are motivated by health benefits, social opportunities, and enjoyment of recreational sport. Sports with the most interest were golf, pickleball, and softball. Additionally, participants expressed interest in bowling, hiking, tennis, volleyball, and swimming. Unfortunately, less than 20% of participants indicated they were satisfied or highly satisfied with the sport opportunities for older adults available through their local P&R department. Related to constraints, participants reported that constraints hindering their participation in recreational sport include physical or health-related factors (e.g., not being in good enough shape, not having the sport-related skills), lack of companions with whom to participate, lack of awareness of opportunities, lack of access to fields/facilities, and cost. The findings also relate to leisure facilitators within the constraint negotiation model, and suggests P&R agencies can facilitate sport participation among older adults by promoting the health, social, and fun aspects of participation; offering opportunities targeted at beginners with no skill/experience required; ensuring programs are age-specific and modified to reduce risk of injury; facilitating introductions among players or providing opportunities for individuals to join teams; ensuring that low-cost options exist, and increasing awareness among older adults through channels effective for this age group (e.g., personal invitation, Facebook). The findings highlight the importance of making older adults a priority when planning sport opportunities and understanding their sport-related interests and unique needs.
Changes in three domains of leisure (i.e., informal, formal, and physical) were examined using data from individuals ages 50 and over from all three waves of the Americans' Changing Lives study (N = ...1,911), and different patterns of change were found. Individual growth curve modeling suggested that while no change occurred over time on average within domains, significant individual differences were found in these patterns across all domains. Limitations in physical functioning and depressive symptoms predicted lower participation across domains, but other predictors including age, race, and gender made a difference. Older age only predicted decreases in the physical domain.
This current study investigated the construct validity and reliability of the Geriatric Fear of Falling Measure (GFFM) among community-dwelling older adults in the United States. Eighty-eight ...participants were assessed on the GFFM together with demographics, falls, and fear of falling and falls-efficacy measures at baseline and an 8-week follow-up visit. Cronbach’s alpha, regression analyses, and correlation analyses were used to examine the psychometric properties of the GFFM. The results showed that the GFFM demonstrated good construct validity and reliability among community-dwelling older adults in the United States. Our findings provide evidence for the validity and reliability of the GFFM. Further study with a larger and diverse sample is needed to determine whether the GFFM has potential as a quick screening tool of fear of falling in clinical settings.
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