Leisure Attitude, Self-Rated Health, and Psychological Well-Being in Older Adults: A Moderated Mediation Model

Purpose: A positive leisure attitude among older adults may have a beneficial effect on psychological well-being, both directly and indirectly by fostering a more positive perception of one's health.This paper presents a correlational design that explores associations among leisure attitude, self-rated health, and psychological well-being, and analyzes the potential moderating role of gender in these relationships.Patients and Methods: The sample was selected using simple random probability sampling (N= 409; 61.9% female; Mean age = 72.9;SD = 8.43¸ Range of age 53 to 93 years).Diverse sociodemographic information was collected, and leisure attitudes, selfperceived health, and psychological well-being (positive affect and emotional ties) were assessed. Results:The results revealed a positive effect of leisure attitude on self-rated health and psychological well-being, with self-rated health fully mediating the association between the behavioral component of leisure attitude and psychological well-being.Furthermore, the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between self-rated health and psychological well-being was stronger among men.Conclusion: Positive cognitive and emotional perceptions of leisure among older adults seem to benefit psychological well-being and improve self-rated health, thereby contributing to healthy ageing.