When we retire from full-time work, family friends and relatives often urge us to "keeping busy". Inactivity is associated with laziness, going into a decline, in fact "giving up on life". However, little is really known about the actual benefits of different forms of activity in older persons. Certainly, informal activity, which involves close interaction with others, has been shown to improve general well-being. A recent study has tried to see whether the reason for doing the activity is more important than the type of activity in affecting one's sense of happiness.

Mailed questionnaires were sent to 350 community-dwelling "young-old" people (i.e. aged 65 to 74). They had to be active, and be able to make choices about their activities. Questions included information on recent health problems, and an estimate of current health (worst possible = 1, best possible = 10).

Well-being was measured using a 10-question scale (Affect Balance Scale) 5 each for positive and negative aspects. Activities were also assessed, with questions covering 44 activities. Subjects had to say which activities they participated in, their current level of participation, and how often they engaged in each. They were then asked to select a reason (or reasons) for their participation from 6 possible reasons.

A total of 249 people returned usable questionnaires (almost 80% of those asked). There were 120 women and 127 men, with an average age of 71. Most were retired (82%), married (71%), and living with others (76%). On average, people assessed their health as 8 on a scale of 1 - 10, and their well-being as 8.5 on a similar scale.

The reasons for undertaking activities were, in decreasing order of frequency: for fun (48%), for mental stimulation (36%), social reasons (26%), to pass the time (21%), for obligatory reasons (16%), and for physical reasons (15%). (These percentages add to more than 100%, as participants could give more than one reason).

Health problems had a significant negative effect on well-being scores, as might be expected. On the other hand, self-rated health and the total amount of activity undertaken had positive influences on well-being.

The influence of motivating reasons was most interesting. Well-being scores were significantly higher in those doing activities for fun, for mental stimulation, and for social reasons.

Further analyses, done especially to exclude any interference by gender, living arrangements, income, or health, showed that the presence of an activity-limiting health problem and activities done to pass the time lowered well-being, while activities done for social reasons were associated with increased well-being.

Previous studies have also shown that social activities improve well-being. This study provides the additional information that doing something just to pass the time has a negative rather than a positive effect. In fact, the results really provide a scientific basis for what we probably knew already - find something to do that's fun, is mentally stimulating, and involves interaction with other people, and you'll feel fine!