Older adults' functional disability and social accomodation trajectories: An Application of parrallel process modeling using a National Sample from Taiwan

Objective: Studies have pointed out the importance of leisure time activity to older adults’ ability to maintain physical function. This study assessed the trajectories of late-life functional disability in Taiwan from 1996 to 2007, and explored how social accommodation factor trends interplay with the disability trajectories.

Methods: The study analyzed the relationships between older adults’ functional disability and social accommodation trajectories using a longitudinal and nationally representative survey database, Health and Living Status of the Middle Aged and Elderly in Taiwan. Four waves of survey data, from 1996 to 2007, and 2,802 older adults were included for analysis. Functional disability trajectories were modeled using Nagi's functional limitations, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living. Social accommodation trajectories, which include leisure time activity, were examined for their influence on the functional disability trajectories. The association among the growth trajectory factors was simultaneously assessed using a parallel process model.

Results: The latent slope (β = −0.75) and initial level (β = −0.14) of leisure time activity negatively predicted the latent slope of functional disability. The initial level of leisure time activity negatively predicted the initial level of functional disability (β = −0.216) (CFI = .946, RMSEA = .065, SRMR = .051).

Conclusions: Among older adults, greater initial level and greater increase in leisure time activity contribute to better maintenance of physical activity as well as slower speed of functional decline across time. It is never too late to start engaging in leisure time activities, but the earlier, the better.