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Gendered leisure time-use and its impact on cognitive function among older adults in rural China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2021

Huijun Liu ,
Yaolin Pei Open the ORCID record for Yaolin Pei [Opens in a new window]  and
Bei Wu Open the ORCID record for Bei Wu [Opens in a new window]
Huijun Liu
Affiliation:
Institute for Population and Development Studies, School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
Yaolin Pei*
Affiliation:
Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, USA
Bei Wu
Affiliation:
Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Email: yp22@nyu.edu
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Abstract

Increasing evidence has shown that an active, socially engaged lifestyle in leisure time might protect older adults against the decline of cognitive function. It remains unclear, however, which types of leisure activities are more beneficial to maintain cognitive function, and whether there are gender differences in the association between leisure activities and cognitive function. We used a two-wave of panel data from 1,018 older adults aged 60 and older in rural China to examine the lag effects of different types of leisure activities on cognitive functioning and to identify the gender differences in their impacts on cognition in rural China. Ordinary least-squares regression models showed that high physical activities were associated with better cognitive function. High intensity of cognitive activities and engaging in physical activities have a protective effect on cognitive function among older men rather than older women. Further, we found that cognitive activities had a stronger effect on cognitive function among older men than older women. It is important to consider gender-specific intervention in leisure activities to maintain cognitive function among older adults.

Keywords

leisure activitytime-usecognitive functiongender differenceChina
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 42 , Issue 11 , November 2022 , pp. 2533 - 2555
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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