Social group memberships, physical activity, and physical health following retirement: A six-year follow-up from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Objectives: To investigate whether belonging to more social groups supports people to be physically active following retirement and confers physical health benefits as a result. Design: A longitudinal design was used, drawing on data spanning an eight-year period from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Methods: In a population sample of retirees (N = 243), mediation models were used to examine relationships between number of post-retirement group memberships, subsequent post-retirement physical activity, and subsequent physical health. Results: Belonging to a greater number of social groups predicted greater physical activity following retirement. More group memberships also consistently predicted both subjective and objective indicators of greater physical health via greater physical activity. Conclusions: Supporting people to maintain – and ideally increase – their group memberships in retirement may have benefits for their engagement in physical activity and long-term physical health.