The Effects of Perceived Enjoyment of Activities on Cognition in Late-Life

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The current cross-sectional study examines the relationship between both frequency and perceived enjoyment of leisure activities and cognitive scores.

Methods: We collected self-reported frequency and perceived pleasure of leisure activities from 58 healthy, community-dwelling older adults and administered a battery of cognitive tests, assessing all major domains (i.e., verbal memory, executive functioning, attention, language, and visuospatial ability).

Results: Perceived pleasantness or enjoyment of Socializing and Being Effective predicted higher scores on tests of attention, processing speed, and language. Frequency of activity participation in Being Effective and Doing subscales predicted lower scores on executive functioning tasks.

Conclusions: The results imply that frequency and perceived enjoyment of some activities are related to cognition in later life.

Clinical Implications: Although the frequency of activities is often measured and subsequently used to address mental health and cognitive concerns in late-life (e.g., Behavioral Activation), we discuss the importance for clinicians to formally assess for enjoyment of these activities as well.

KEYWORDS:

• Activity level
• aging
• behavioral activation
• cognitive functioning
• leisure activities

Clinical Implications

• Activities experienced as enjoyable may have benefits in promoting or maintaining cognitive functioning for healthy older adults

• Engaging in personally preferred leisure activities is important for older people.

• Formal assessment of enjoyment of activities is important to include in care planning, treatment planning, or behavioral activation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.