Factors Associated with Participation of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Activities Related to Leisure and Social Participation: A Systematic Review

The significant and rapid growth of the aging population is one of the most important phenomena of the current century. According to the main component of the World Health Organization, the concern over aging can be operationalized through informal contributions such as social and leisure activities.

The current study mainly aimed to review the factors associated with the participation of community-dwelling older adults in activities related to leisure and social participation.
Data Source:In this study, based on PRISMA guidelines, articles investigating factors associated with the participation of community-dwelling older adults in activities related to leisure and social participation and published from 2005 to 2022 in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases were screened. Inclusion criteria consisted of articles having been published in peer-reviewed journals between 2005 and 2022 and reaching I, II, III, and IV AOTA levels of evidence. To complete the study, a total of 651 articles were retrieved. Finally, 29 articles were reviewed.

Out of 29 articles, three articles were at evidence level I, 12 were at evidence level II, one was at evidence level III, and 13 were at evidence level IV. The social participation of the elderly was discussed in all 29 articles; however, the activities related to leisure of the elderly, in addition to the social participation, was discussed in only 11 articles. Levels of education and disability were the most relevant individual factors affecting the social participation and leisure activities of elders, respectively; the social networks with families, friends, etc., on the other hand, were the most relevant environmental factors influencing both social participation and leisure activities.

Since the levels of education and disability were the most relevant individual factors affecting the participation of the elderly in activities related to social participation and leisure, respectively, and because it was difficult to make interventions in these factors, it was suggested that occupational therapists and other geriatric specialists should make advocacy-based interventions in the social networks which was recognized as the most relevant environmental factors contributing to leisure and the social participation.