A Structural Model of the Effects of Organized Leisure Activities on the Well-Being of Elder Adults in Spain

Abstract

This work analyses the psychological effects of organized leisure activities on the elderly people that participated in them. The study was carried out with a sample of 122 people using the services of a day care center with ages ranging from 50 years to 82 years (mean = 67.6 years). The sample was distributed into four activity groups: maintenance exercise, handcrafts, computing, and art. There was also a control group made up of people applying for these activities who were on a waiting list. A prepost methodology was used to analyze the changes found in the following variables: Social Support, Loneliness, Life Satisfaction, Depression, Perceived Control, Social Self-Efficacy, and Self-Perceived Health. The adjustment indicators obtained partially confirm the model we proposed. Thus, participation in these activities contributes to reducing the level of depression and loneliness in the participants and increases their level of life satisfaction, and perceived control in their lives.

Key Words:

• Leisure-time
• well-being
• need-satisfaction
• structural models
• retirement
• Social Services
• Community Services
• social adjustment