The activity involvement of women and men in young and middle adulthood: A panel study

Abstract

Abstract In a secondary analyses of a 36‐year panel study of 267 Euro‐American women and men, this research examined gender differences in (a) the frequency of individuals’ involvement in discretionary or free‐time activity in young and middle adulthood, (b) change in activity involvement between young and middle adulthood, and (c) predictors of activity involvement in young and middle adulthood. Activity involvement included participation in recreational, formal and informal educational, and voluntary (club and organizational) activities. Results of this panel study suggest both change and continuity in activity involvement with age. Results also indicate that gender distinguishes patterns and predictors of participation in discretionary activity.