Daniel Naud1, Mélissa Généreux2, Aline Alauzet3,4, Jean-François Bruneau5, Alan Cohen6, Mélanie Levasseur1,7. 1. Research Centre on Aging, Eastern Townships Integrated University Centre for Health & Social Services - Sherbrooke Hospital University Centre, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. 2. Department of Community Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. 3. Département TS2 - Transport Santé Sécurité, IFSTTAR - Institut Français des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de L'aménagement et des Réseaux, Bouguenais, France. 4. LESCOT - Laboratoire Ergonomie et Sciences Cognitives pour les Transports Site de Lyon-Bron, Bron, France. 5. Department of Applied Geomatics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. 6. Department of Family Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. 7. School or rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract
AIM: This study described and compared participation with community activities and perceived barriers among middle-aged and older Canadians by gender and age group (45-64, 65-74, 75-84, ≥85 years). METHOD: Using the cross-sectional 2008-2009 Canadian Community Health Survey - Healthy Aging, we considered the frequency of involvement in eight community activities and the presence of 10 perceived personal and environmental barriers. RESULTS: Although frequency was globally similar for women and men (15.2 vs. 14.5 activities per month; P < 0.01), adults aged 65-74 years had higher participation (16.0 activities per month) than adults aged 45-64, 75-84 and ≥85 years (P < 0.01). Barriers showed wider gender and age gaps than participation to community activities. Notably, health condition limitations were the most reported barrier aged ≥65 years, and environmental barriers were generally greater for women than men, particularly transportation problems (P < 0.01), except ≥85 years. CONCLUSION: The results highlight that further study of social participation and barriers among older adults must consider gender and age differences. The differences are important to consider for designing population interventions aiming at improving social participation among aging Canadians. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••-•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••-••.
AIM: This study described and compared participation with community activities and perceived barriers among middle-aged and older Canadians by gender and age group (45-64, 65-74, 75-84, ≥85 years). METHOD: Using the cross-sectional 2008-2009 Canadian Community Health Survey - Healthy Aging, we considered the frequency of involvement in eight community activities and the presence of 10 perceived personal and environmental barriers. RESULTS: Although frequency was globally similar for women and men (15.2 vs. 14.5 activities per month; P < 0.01), adults aged 65-74 years had higher participation (16.0 activities per month) than adults aged 45-64, 75-84 and ≥85 years (P < 0.01). Barriers showed wider gender and age gaps than participation to community activities. Notably, health condition limitations were the most reported barrier aged ≥65 years, and environmental barriers were generally greater for women than men, particularly transportation problems (P < 0.01), except ≥85 years. CONCLUSION: The results highlight that further study of social participation and barriers among older adults must consider gender and age differences. The differences are important to consider for designing population interventions aiming at improving social participation among aging Canadians. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••-•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••-••.