World Leisure Journal | 2021
Leisure and aging in difficult times: Introduction to special issue
Abstract
Recent years have seen an increase in research on leisure and aging due, in part, to the aging of the population in many economically developed countries. Much of this literature has explored the role of leisure in aging well, highlighted opportunities and challenges for meaningful leisure in later life, and provided insights on how leisure service providers can better meet the needs of older adults (e.g. Genoe et al., 2018; Kleiber & Linde, 2014; Whyte & Fortune, 2017). Since early 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has added a layer of complexity to our understanding of leisure and aging for individuals, communities, and society at large (Hoffman et al., 2020; Son et al., 2021). Much attention has been directed toward older adults’ vulnerability in the face of the pandemic. Indeed, assumptions of vulnerability have shaped the experiences of many older adults, subjecting them to greater restrictions and social isolation and contributing to the prevalence of ageism, including compassionate ageism (Fraser et al., 2020; Vervaecke & Meisner, 2021). A number of factors, including work or retirement status, digital literacy, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, disability, and geographic location have undoubtedly influenced older adults’ experiences of leisure during the pandemic. The aim of this special issue is to explore global perspectives on leisure and aging during the past year and a half, considering the impact of the pandemic.