Leisure Activities Buffer the Impact of Chronic Pain on Life Satisfaction: A Cross-Sectional Study of Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain significantly reduces life satisfaction in older adults, but the moderating role of leisure activities is unclear. We examined the association between chronic pain and life satisfaction and whether leisure activity participation moderates this relationship. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 5594 community-dwelling adults aged 60 to 95 years, including 2558 men (45.7%). METHODS: Assessments included demographics, Mini-Mental State Examination, chronic pain status, life satisfaction, and physical and cognitive leisure activities. Multiple linear regression models tested chronic pain, leisure activity scores, and their interactions, adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Chronic pain was associated with lower life satisfaction (β = -0.67; 95% CI, -0.92 to -0.42; P < .001). Higher physical (β = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.02-0.06; P < .001) and cognitive (β = 0.07; 95% CI, 0.04-0.09; P < .001) leisure activity scores were independently associated with higher life satisfaction. A significant interaction indicated that physical leisure activities attenuated the negative association of chronic pain with life satisfaction (β = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.004-0.07; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Engagement in physical leisure activities may help preserve life satisfaction among older adults with chronic pain. These results highlight the importance of incorporating leisure activity promotion into community-based programs and geriatric care initiatives aimed to improve life satisfaction.