Effects of Physical, Mental, Social, Cultural, and Passive Leisure Activities on Episodic Memory Across Adulthood

Abstract The impact of leisure activities on cognition has been mainly investigated in older adults by means of composite measures of leisure activities and general measures of cognition. The majority of these studies have reported that leisure activities improve cognitive functions and even prevent cognitive impairment. However, the independent influences of each leisure activity on episodic memory across adulthood, and specifically in young, middle-aged, and older adults, have not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to estimate the separate influence of physical, mental, social, cultural, and passive leisure activities on episodic memory in an adult lifespan sample and in the main stages of adulthood. A sample of 1,557 healthy adults between 21 and 80 years of age participated in the study. Leisure activities were assessed through a lifestyle questionnaire created for the study. Episodic memory performance was measured through a computerized task that allowed us to reliably measure recollection and recognition, the main processes within episodic memory. Physical and mental (computer use) leisure activities predicted higher recollection and recognition across adulthood. Young adults’ recollection and recognition benefited from physical, mental (computer use), and social leisure activities. Middle-aged adults’ recollection benefited from physical and mental (computer use) leisure activities. Only the mental leisure activity of engaging in hobbies predicted higher recollection in older adults. Although we observed that physical, mental and social leisure activities improved episodic memory processes, with advancing age, individuals tend to cease these activities.