Final answer:
Down aging relates to leisure by adapting leisure activities to suit changing abilities as individuals grow older, providing them with sustained or even increased leisure satisfaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Down aging relates to leisure across the life course by adapting leisure activities to changing abilities over time. This concept acknowledges that as individuals age, they may shift their focus to activities that are more meaningful to them, which can involve a change in intensity or type of leisure. As one grows older, leisure opportunities may increase for some, as they step away from work and familial responsibilities and have more time to engage in leisurely pursuits that align with their current capabilities and interests.
For instance, a retired professor who values teaching could continue to do so through a phased retirement, teaching fewer classes per year to match their physical abilities while still engaging in a valuable leisure activity that brings them joy.
Therefore, down aging suggests that while there may be a physical decline with age, the adaption to and selection of suitable leisure opportunities can lead to sustained or even increased leisure satisfaction among older adults rather than a decrease across ages.