Interacting With More People Is Shown to Keep Older Adults More Active

A study published in the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences found older men and women who were more socially engaged were more likely to be physically active, less sedentary, have greater positive moods, and fewer negative feelings, reports ScienceDaily . During three-hour periods when study participants were interacting with a more diverse range of social partners, they reported engaging in a greater variety of activities like going outside, walking, talking with others, or shopping. Furthermore, acquaintances or peripheral social ties may encourage older adults to be more physically active, which contributes to physical and emotional health, in addition to cognitive ability. "This new research relies on truly novel data that capture both the amount and quality of contact with all types of people that seniors encounter throughout the day — and the results show us that these routine encounters have important benefits for activity levels and psychological well-being," said University of Texas at Austin Professor Debra Umberson. "This new information suggests the importance of policies and programs that support and promote routine and informal social participation."