Visual Difficulty and Valued Activity Among Older Adults: Findings from the National Health and Aging Trends Study
2024

Visual Difficulty and Valued Activity Among Older Adults

Sample size: 5807 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Xu Shu, Wang Haowei

Primary Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Hypothesis

How does visual difficulty affect the activity preferences and participation of older adults?

Conclusion

Older adults with visual difficulty are less likely to engage in valued activities and face more barriers to participation.

Supporting Evidence

  • Older adults with near and distance visual difficulty were less likely to engage in valued activities.
  • Health-related and COVID-19 restrictions were significant barriers to participation in valued activities.

Takeaway

Older people who have trouble seeing find it harder to do things they enjoy, like visiting friends or going out.

Methodology

The study used nationally representative data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study 2022 to examine activity preferences and participation among older adults with and without visual difficulty.

Limitations

The study may not account for all potential barriers to participation in valued activities.

Participant Demographics

56.3% of participants were aged between 65 and 74 years old, with 8.6% experiencing visual difficulty.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.2534

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