Recreation Participation Patterns and Successful Aging

A secondary analysis of current and retrospective data from a 20-year study of twins employing 60 male and female subjects (X — 85.5 years of age) were used in this investigation. Current data included an evaluation of the twins' successful aging (SA) whose criteria included physical and mental health and intellectual performance. Current and retrospective data were employed to assess the subjects' recreative pursuits. Activities were differentiated as sensory-motor, cognitive, or affective. A Recreative Activity Schedule classified data by life stage and frequency of participation. A significant relationship was found between recreative involvement and SA. Cognitive activity and intellectual performance demonstrated the highest relationship while motor activity did not significantly relate to physical health. A high degree of activity with regularity was more highly correlated to SA than was sporadic activity of a low degree.