Michelle Putnam1, Nancy Morrow-Howell2, Megumi Inoue3, Jennifer C Greenfield4, Huajuan Chen4, YungSoo Lee5. 1. School of Social Work, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts. michelle.putnam@simmons.edu. 2. Brown School of Social Work and Center for Aging, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. 3. Graduate School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. 4. Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. 5. Department of Social Welfare, University of Incheon, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Korea.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aims of this study were to inventory activity items within and across U.S. public use data sets, to identify gaps in represented activity domains and challenges in interpreting domains, and to assess the potential for studying multiple activity engagement among older adults using existing data. DESIGN AND METHODS: We engaged in content analysis of activity measures of 5U.S. public use data sets with nationally representative samples of older adults. Data sets included the Health & Retirement Survey (HRS), Americans' Changing Lives Survey (ACL), Midlife in the United States Survey (MIDUS), the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics survey (PSID). Two waves of each data set were analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 13 distinct activity domains across the 5 data sets, with substantial differences in representation of those domains among the data sets, and variance in the number and type of activity measures included in each. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings indicate that although it is possible to study multiple activity engagement within existing data sets, fuller sets of activity measures need to be developed in order to evaluate the portfolio of activities older adults engage in and the relationship of these portfolios to health and wellness outcomes. Importantly, clearer conceptual models of activity broadly conceived are required to guide this work.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aims of this study were to inventory activity items within and across U.S. public use data sets, to identify gaps in represented activity domains and challenges in interpreting domains, and to assess the potential for studying multiple activity engagement among older adults using existing data. DESIGN AND METHODS: We engaged in content analysis of activity measures of 5U.S. public use data sets with nationally representative samples of older adults. Data sets included the Health & Retirement Survey (HRS), Americans' Changing Lives Survey (ACL), Midlife in the United States Survey (MIDUS), the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics survey (PSID). Two waves of each data set were analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 13 distinct activity domains across the 5 data sets, with substantial differences in representation of those domains among the data sets, and variance in the number and type of activity measures included in each. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings indicate that although it is possible to study multiple activity engagement within existing data sets, fuller sets of activity measures need to be developed in order to evaluate the portfolio of activities older adults engage in and the relationship of these portfolios to health and wellness outcomes. Importantly, clearer conceptual models of activity broadly conceived are required to guide this work.
Authors: Kathryn Peri; Ngaire Kerse; Elizabeth Robinson; Matthew Parsons; John Parsons; N Latham Journal: Age Ageing Date: 2007-10-25 Impact factor: 10.668