Association between Participation Activities, Pain Severity, and Psychological Distress in Old Age: A Population-Based Study of Swedish Older Adults

Elena Dragioti, Björn Gerdle, Lars-Åke Levin, Lars Bernfort and Huan-Ji Dong
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Elena Dragioti: Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
Björn Gerdle: Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
Lars-Åke Levin: Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Health Care Analysis, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
Lars Bernfort: Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Health Care Analysis, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
Huan-Ji Dong: Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Although chronic pain is common in old age, previous studies on participation activities in old age seldom consider pain aspects and its related consequences. This study analyses associations between participation activities, pain severity, and psychological distress in an aging population of Swedish older adults ( N = 6611). We examined older adults’ participation in five common leisure activities using the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI), sociodemographic factors, pain severity, weight status, comorbidities, and pain-related psychological distress (anxiety, depression, insomnia severity, and pain catastrophising). We found that gender, body mass index (BMI) levels, and psychological distress factors significantly affected older adults’ participation in leisure activities. Pain severity and multimorbidity were not significantly associated with older adults’ participation in leisure activities nor with gender stratification in generalised linear regression models. The potentially modifiable factors, such as high levels of BMI and psychological distress, affected activity participation in men and women differently. Health professionals and social workers should consider gender and target potentially modifiable factors such as weight status and psychological distress to increase older adults’ participation in leisure activities.

Keywords: participation; older adults; leisure activity; psychological distress; gender; body mass index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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