Abstract:

Data from a 16-year longitudinal study of community-residing older adults were drawn on to examine sex differences in: (1) age changes in self-reported health & leisure activity involvement, & (2) the relationship between self-reported health & leisure activity involvement. Results from a sample of 164 predominantly Euro-American married women & men ages 50-59 when first interviewed in 1975, & followed to 1991, indicate similarities in levels of & age changes in self-reported health. However, the frequency of the leisure activity involvement of women was less likely than that of men to be affected by increasing age & decreasing health. Suggested is that maintaining or enhancing physical health should be the focus of leisure service providers. Why gender mediates the experience of & relationship among aging, health, & leisure in later life needs to be examined.