Study of the Factors of Elderly Male Participation in Social Activities

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to reveal the outline of elderly males’ participation in social activities and to discuss ways of support to help participation.

Method: An anonymous questionnaire survey of elderly males living in the city of A was conducted. The analysis focused on the relationship between the lower factors, which were selected through factor analysis, and personal aspects, physical and mental aspects, aspects of life, or social aspects.

Results: The questionnaires were distributed to 980 elderly males: 416 of them were selected as subjects of analysis. Three factors, “Interacting with locals”, “Personal amusement”, and “Continued learning”, were selected through the factor analysis of the question about social activities. The items showed the important relation with all the factors were “economic affordability”, “confidence in walking”, “Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology index of competence”, and “Community Commitment Scale”. The items showed the relation of “Interacting with locals” only to be people with no disease and the advanced elderly. The item which showed a relationship only with “Personal amusement” was the young elderly.

Discussion: In order to facilitate elderly males’ participate in community services, mobility support, using ICT, and support for prevention of frailty would be effective. To help their continuous participation in social activities, supporting all generations’ participation in the activity, “Interacting with locals” would also be effective.