The role of vision impairment for the outdoor activity and life satisfaction of older adults: a multi-faceted view

This paper addresses the interrelations between vision impairment, outdoor activity, and life satisfaction in older adults. Results are based on a sample of 404 elders living in private households in rural Germany. Structural equation modeling supports the hypothesis that vision impairment directly affects basic outdoor activity (represented by basic and instrumental activities of daily living performed outside the home, ADL-IADL-OUT), while only an indirect impact on the expanded component of outdoor activity (represented by leisure activities exerted outside the home, LA-OUT) via ADL-IADL- OUT was found. LA-OUT was instead strongly influenced by the motivation to exert activities outside the home. Furthermore, the findings indicate that vision impairment is but one important variable that affects outdoor activity, specifically impairment in physical mobility. Finally, the direct link hypothesized between outdoor activity and general life satisfaction was also confirmed.