Chapter 11: Social Participation, Connectedness, and Leisure

Question 1

Explain social networks over the life course. (5)

Answer 1

• Described in terms of family, size, heterogeneity, composition, density
• Provide opportunities for interaction and support
• Involves giving and receiving
• Tend to be large, kin-centred, and dense; shrinks in transitions
• Size and composition vary

Question 2

Describe loneliness and social isolation in later life. (4)

Answer 2

• Sometimes assumed to be common, but depends on personal and structural determinants
• Loneliness is subjective (feeling), social isolation is objective (number of relationships)
• Some people can have contact, but feel lonely
• Some become and remain lonely after certian life events or being socially excluded

Question 3

Describe social participation in later life. (2)

Answer 3

• Highly correlates with well-being, happiness, and life satisfaction
• Takes forms like volunteering, travel, political and religious involvement, and gambling

Question 4

Explain what volunteering does? (4)

Answer 4

• Creates social responsibility, cohesion, and a sense of community/belonging
• Allows for intergenerational activities and learning
• Challenges view of elder laziness
• Allows to give back to community and increase self-worth

Question 5

Explain the political participation. (3)

Answer 5

• Priorities and political opinions shift leading to new interests
• Little evidence that older people vote as a block
• Represent an implied electoral force that could swing an election

Question 6

Explain religious participation. (3)

Answer 6

• Positively related to health, well-being, and social support
• Attendance remains stable across life course
• Older cohorts usually report stronger beliefs

Question 7

Explain media consumption. (2)

Answer 7

• Provides indirect contact with social world, may help prevent loneliness and social isolation
• Use of technology to deliver education programs to older adults is increasing

Question 8

Explain lifelong learning. (6)

Answer 8

• Has become essential b/c of rapid technological and social change
• Many consider as a leisure activity with psychological and physiological benefits
• Prevents isolation and increases life satisfaction and health
• Improves literacy rates
• Changes perceptions and themselves
• No longer restricted to early adulthood

Question 9

Explain travel and tourism (2)

Answer 9

• Older travellers, esp. women make up fastest growing segment of travel industry
• One growing area is RVing

Question 10

Explain gambling. (4)

Answer 10

• Increasingly popular
• 70% are engaged in some type
• Many become addicted (hidden issue)
• B/c of loneliness, boredom, stress, cognitive impairment, time and wealth

Question 11

Describe older criminals (4)

Answer 11

• Two types: those who offend in old age, those who grew older in incarceration
• Increasing, but still very low
• Treated more leniently
• Involves drunkenness and driving under influence

Question 12

What are the methodological and conceptual issues of leisure and aging?

Answer 12

• Vary across the life course
• Leisure is associated with higher levels of self-esteem/well-being and positive adjustment to aging
• Leisure after retirement increases
• Stereotypical images of leisure in later life seen as passive are being cast aside