Background and Objectives: Television viewing is the most common leisure activity in late life and may ease loneliness but
encourage sedentary behavior. These associations may be particularly evident among older adults who live alone and who
may lack other forms of companionship throughout the day.
Research Design and Methods: Adults aged 65+ (N = 257) participated, of whom 34% lived alone. Participants completed
an initial interview followed by a 5- to 6-day data collection involving multimethods: (a) Electronically Activated Recorders
(30 s every 7 min) provided audio recordings of television viewing, (b) Actical accelerometers objectively measured physical
activity, and (c) ecological momentary assessments every 3 hr assessed social interactions.
Results: On average, older adults spent approximately 37% of their waking time (6.4 hr a day) watching television.
Multilevel models revealed that television viewing occurred when participants were alone or with a spouse and was
associated with a greater proportion of time sedentary, lower activity, and higher ratings of loneliness compared to when
not watching television. Older adults who lived alone reported greater loneliness during 3-hr intervals when viewing
television, but older adults who lived with others spent a greater proportion of time sedentary when viewing television.
Discussion and Implications: Findings are discussed with regard to different rationales and ways of watching television—
as compensation for social isolation or as a passive leisure activity with a social partner. We discuss ideas for research on
additional aspects of television viewing and screen time in late life.