Page 56 - IJPS-8-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Cognitive functioning and active life engagement

It is evident that active life engagement of older adults is age 65 and until their health deteriorates, due to the
constrained by their external environment and individual out-migration of their adult children, and a lack of
resources, such as facilities, age, and socioeconomic comprehensive social security system (Zhang, 2010;
status, as well as their own health conditions (Mejía, Ryan, Zhou, 2012). In addition, due to significant rural-urban
Gonzalez, et al., 2017). At the same time, although not disparities in socioeconomic development, rural villages
inevitable, cognitive impairment become more common are less likely to have cultural, wellness and recreational
in late life. Therefore, in addition to improve active life facilities (e.g., senior activity centers and chess room)
engagement before the onset of functional decline, it is also than communities in urban areas (Liu, 2016). Moreover,
important to promote active life engagement in the wake of rural Chinese older adults are less likely to participate
impairments in cognitive functioning. in volunteering activities compared to urban China,
Maintaining active life engagement is a significant because most volunteer programs in China are organized
challenge in rural China, due to a lack of resources at by government agencies and mainly targeted to retired
individual and community level. This issue is exacerbated professionals (Luo, Pan, and Zhang, 2019).
in the face of rapid increase of aging population in rural 1.2. Cognitive functioning and active life
areas (Chen and Liu, 2009; Peng, 2011). The previous engagement
studies on this issue have mainly focuses on Western
countries with cross-sectional designs, and little is known The International Classification of Functioning, Disability
about the relationship between cognitive impairment and Health Model (ICF model) developed by the World
and active life engagement among older adults in rural Health Organization, provides a relevant conceptual
China. Furthermore, research on the influence of cognitive framework for studying the association between functional
impairment on active life engagement is only limited ability and active life engagement in older adults (the
among older adults with some chronic diseases (Ben Ari, World Health Organization, 2001). The phenomenon
Johansson, Ytterberg, et al., 2014; Desrosiers, Demers, of participation in activities not only is related to
Robichaud, et al., 2008; Lenze, Munin, Dew, et al., 2004). impairments but also links to the environment individuals
Diary-based methods that capture individuals’ time- reside (Arnadottir, Gunnarsdottir, Stenlund, et al.,
use for a single day allows researchers to detail the 2011). According to this model, active life engagement is
participation of daily activities that are comprised active constrained by cognitive functioning, as well as contextual
life engagement and address the limitations of the previous factors that include personal (e.g., age and gender) and
studies that used aggregated measures of time-use external environmental factors (e.g., region). The ICF
(Freedman, Cornman, Carr, et al., 2019; McKenna, Liddle, Model has been widely used by rehabilitation researchers
Brown, et al., 2009). Using this approach, each participant to identify risk factors (e.g., vision, physical functioning,
is asked to recall what he/she was doing on the previous and cognitive functioning) for active life engagement
day, specific activities are clearly outlined and participation and evaluate rehabilitation success after their therapeutic
in daily activities can be distinguished. In addition, time- interventions among older adults with chronic diseases
use diaries are less likely to be influenced by biases related (Alma, Van der Mei, Melis-Dankers, et al., 2011; Anaby,
to social desirability and are more accurate and precise Miller, Eng, et al., 2009; Ben Ari, Johansson, Ytterberg,
than aggregated measures (e.g., general survey questions) et al., 2014; Cimarolli, Boerner, Reinhardt, et al., 2017;
in understanding the daily life of participants (Brenner, Desrosiers, Demers, Robichaud, et al., 2008; Lenze, Munin,
2011; Sabbath, Matz-Costa, Rowe, et al., 2016). Dew, et al., 2004). It is noted that the ICF model could be
applied to general populations of older adults, not only
Using a two-wave representative sample of older adults
in rural China, the purpose of this study is to examine the those with impairments or chronic disease (Levasseur,
Desrosiers, and Tribble, 2007).
pattern of active life engagement among rural Chinese
older adults and investigate the impact of level and declines Cognitive impairment may limit everyday activities
of cognitive functioning on different kinds of activities. in older adults. For those rural Chinese older adults,
withdrawal from economy activities and social activities is
1.1. The rural China setting generally not voluntary but due to the decline of physical
Rural older Chinese population represent a unique and cognitive functioning (Arnadottir, Gunnarsdottir,
opportunity for studying the relationship between Stenlund, et al., 2011; Rosso, Taylor, Tabb, et al., 2013).
cognitive functioning and active life engagement. The However, there is limited research on the association
majority of rural Chinese older adults may have to between cognitive functioning and active life engagement
make a living by participating in the paid work beyond among rural older adults in China.

Volume 8 Issue 1 (2022) 50 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v8i1.1301