Positive Aeging and Leisure: Role of Leisure in Healthy Ageing of the Elderly in India

The ageing of the population is a world wide trend; anticipated to have wide spread and significant social, economic and infrastructural impact. WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well being; and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity”. Healthy ageing depends upon genetic, environmental and behavioral factors, as well as broader environmental and socio economic determinants. It is particularly important for the elderly to remain physically active as this can decrease the risk of many age related conditions. The study aims to find out the role of Leisure in promoting healthy ageing among the elderly in India urban society.

Hypothesis constructed to direct the study are:

1. Involvement in Leisure activity results in healthy ageing.

2. Type of Leisure activities play a role in the health of an ageing person.

3. Every Leisure activity does not have a positive role in healthy ageing.

                   206 respondents aged 60 and above from urban settings of a fast developing town of India were selected through a stratified disproportionate random sampling. Semi structured interview schedule was used to collect the data; there after statistical method was used for the data analyses. Findings reveal that:

Health has two broad parameters, mental health and the physical health.

Type of the leisure activity affects the mental and physical health differently.

Passive leisure activities may have a positive role in the mental health but can negatively affect the physical health.