Psychological well-being among elderly Korean women with osteoarthritis in relation to leisure, extraversion, and perceived health

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent chronic disease limiting older people's functioning, and it necessitates coping strategies to control incessant pain and to adapt to physical disability. Leisure participation and leisure behavior, in relation to extraversion and perceived health, may have decisive impacts on the psychological well-being of those experiencing OA.; The purpose of this research was to identify types of leisure participation and patterns of leisure behavior used as coping strategies for successful adaptation to life changes caused by OA, and to explore leisure's relation to extraversion and perceived health in the adaptation process affecting psychological well-being among elderly Korean women with OA.; The study analyzed leisure participation, leisure behavior pattern, extraversion, perceived health, and psychological well-being among 392 Korean women with OA, aged 65 to 80. Data were collected in 2003 by survey method and were analyzed with various statistical approaches.; Elderly Korean women with OA participated in social activities significantly more often than in any other activities. The moderate relationships of leisure participation with extraversion and perceived health were highly significant. Leisure behavior pattern also showed significant relationships with extraversion and perceived health.; The study found that the dependent variable of psychological well-being had moderate relationships with the independent variables of leisure participation, extraversion, and perceived health. These correlations were significant at the level of .05. Linear regression models were used to identify significant predictors of psychological well-being. Perceived health had a strong effect on psychological well-being. Participation in social activity contributed a small but significant amount to psychological well-being in the model. The "quit" leisure behavior pattern (when people ceased activities) and income also had influences on psychological well-being. Surprisingly, extraversion did not predict a significant portion of the variance in psychological well-being.; Among elderly Korean women with OA, maintenance of better psychological well-being is influenced by perceived health, social activity, the "quit" leisure behavior pattern, and income. Observed levels of psychological well-being suggest that older age is not uniformly associated with declines. The predictors of greater psychological well-being identified here may offer direction for effective interventions aimed at promoting psychological well-being.