Table 1.
Social Participation Activities Reported by Health and Retirement Study Participants, 2014 and 2016
| Activity | Categorization in Levasseur taxonomy1 | % Reporting regular participation2 N=12,825 |
|---|---|---|
| Watch television | 1 | 97.1 |
| Read books, magazines, or newspapers | 1 | 90.9 |
| Pray privately in a place other than a church or synagogue | 1 | 73.0 |
| Do home maintenance or gardening | 1 | 72.5 |
| Walk for 20 minutes or more | 2 | 69.9 |
| Bake or cook something special | 1 | 68.5 |
| Use a computer for e-mail, Internet, or other tasks | 3 | 65.4 |
| Play sports or exercise | 2 | 55.5 |
| Do activities with grandchildren, nieces/nephews, or neighborhood children | 4 | 52.1 |
| Do word games such as crossword puzzles or Scrabble | 4 | 48.4 |
| Work on a hobby or project | 1 | 45.9 |
| Play cards or games such as chess | 4 | 33.4 |
| Go to a sport, social, or other club | 6 | 32.8 |
| Do writing (such as letters, stories, or journal entries) | 1 | 32.4 |
| Do other volunteer or charity work | 5 | 26.6 |
| Care for sick or disabled adult | 5 | 19.1 |
| Attend meetings of non-religious organizations, such as political, community, or other interest groups |
6 | 16.5 |
| Volunteer work with children or young people | 5 | 14.0 |
| Attend an educational or training course | 3 | 12.7 |
| Make clothes, knit, embroider, etc. | 1 | 12.6 |
| Participate in a local community arts group such as a choir, dance, photography, theater, or music group | 4 | 10.0 |
1
Categories of Levasseur taxonomy: 1) Activity done in preparation for connecting with others; 2) Activity done alone but completed while being around others; 3) Activity done while making social contact with others but not doing a specific activity with them; 4) Activity done with others to reach a common goal; 5) Activity done to help others; and 6) Activity done to contribute to society
2
Regular participation defined as engaging in social activity at least once per month.