The dynamics of gender and leisure in old age
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The dynamics of gender and leisure in old age
Gender roles
The dynamics of gender and leisure in old age show that at the micro-level, men become more active in comparison with women, and observed characteristics do not influence them a lot. At the age of retirement, men enjoy engaging in sport club activities most of the time. Gender plays a primary role in leisure in old age in that at the Macro level, the expenditure of a country on recreation as well as culture encourages women to be active in leisure activities. When a nation spends a percentage of the gross domestic product on culture as well as recreation, it reduces the gender gap of those who engage in leisure activities. When people are free from duties, they can participate in leisure activities every day. In aging, some leisure activities are significant in protecting cognitive health, which is of great consideration to many people.
Leisure and health outcomes for women and men
Evidence shows that leisure activities in midlife, as well as adulthood, make rational health to be better during old age. For example, engaging in socially and cognitive activities during midlife in men and women engaging in cultural activities during their adult life reduced dementia in later years. Those who engage in political as well as mental activities during midlife improved the cognitive function during their old age. Leisure activities have different patterns in men and women because their roles and responsibilities vary depending on their culture.
Benefits of leisure to older men and women
Leisure is significant to older people because of retirement, they have already left their workplaces, or there is a reduction of their roles and responsibilities. Leisure activities improve the health of seniors, their well-being psychologically to cope with adverse life events. Leisure is significant in older adults because they have no constraints in life, the obligations are few, and have freedom for self-expression.
Social expectations
Concerning leisure and social expectations, leisure activities in socializing and exercising among retirees in America bring about good health. However, ethnic and racial minorities experience a decline in leisure participation depending on their income, where those who can afford participate more in leisure activities. Leisure and recreation provide older people with the opportunity to socialize and receive social support.
Other patient concerns
Main changes in leisure behavior as people age
- The decline in participation
As people age, they decline their participation in leisure activities where they reduce the number of activities as well as the frequency.
- The shift from active leisure to more passive activities
As people grow old, they tend to reduce the number of physical activities and involvement in them to activities that require less physical effort.
- Shift from outdoor leisure to indoor activities
The oldest people prefer indoor activities that are less involving.
- The decline in search of novelty
As people age, they do not explore new leisure activities but prefer to stick to the old ones. They abandon the activities that do not satisfy them and engage more in enriching activities.
Constrains that influence older adults leisure
Health-related constraints such as chronic illness, disabilities, reduced level of energy, lack of concentration, and memory problems.
Psychological constraints including fear, low self-esteem, and lack of motivation
Technical constraints such as lack of income, limited activities, and problems with mobility and time
Cultural, environmental constraints include social isolation and the need to behave according to societal norms related to age. They lack companion from friends and relatives due to the increased mortality of their age mates.
Essay 2
Some models of aging have been quite popular over the years among scholars and practitioners. Most notably, life-span developmental theories, as well as life-course theory/perspective, are among the popular models.
In terms of understanding aging, old age, and issues of leisure and old age, these approaches are useful in that they help us to explore the changes that occur as we grow from conception up to death, which is a lifelong process. They tell us how children can grow to become happy, healthy adults. As children grow, they pass through various stages of development, which involves thinking as well as reasoning.
These approaches can help us to understand the issues of leisure in later life by enabling us to develop diagnostic instruments for psychiatrists who handle individuals in their later life to assess their symptomatology. A researcher measures the developmental changes that occur to know how they cope with conflicts, illnesses as well as stressors. The relationships of individuals in their old age with their caregivers change depending on how the caregivers handle them.
These demand the caregivers and nurses to handle such individuals with empathy and self-reflection as well as give them attention to creating a space for them to express their daily experiences.
The limitations of life-course/life span perspectives
The life course perspective has a limitation in that it fails satisfactorily to associate the micro-world of persons and family lives to the microenvironment of social organizations and certified agencies. Contrary to the social and behavioral sciences that try to delink micro and macro studies in the social world, life-course/life span perspectives try to bring micro and macro aspects together.
These approaches are problematic in a heterogeneous society. For instance, in the United States, there is a high degree of heterogeneity, which makes it hard for one to discern patterns using this approach.