Abstract
The present study aims to identify factors essential to the activity of senior citizens clubs in order to develop an assessment index for senior citizens clubs. Subjects were 24 leaders of senior citizens clubs who lived in three areas in Aichi Prefecture : An urban area in a large city, a rural coastal area, and a rural area in the mountains. Data collected during semi-structured interviews were analyzed by inductive and descriptive methods. Two primary categories of factors essential to the activity of senior citizens clubs were extracted from the analysis : <The consciousness and actions of the members> and <The function of the organization>. Five secondary categories, 15 tertiary categories and 66 quaternary categories were classified under the primary categories. Of the five secondary categories, [Members' positive attitudes], [Cooperation among assistant leaders], and [Leadership] were classified under <The consciousness and actions of members>, with each of these three categories affecting the others. The two remaining secondary categories, [Types of activities and administration] and [Associations with other organizations], were classified under<The function of the organization>. <The consciousness and actions of members> is a factor fundamental to the activity of senior citizens clubs and influences<The function of the organization>. Essentially, senior citizens clubs function effectively when the members, assistant leaders, and leader actively participate in the activities of the club. In the present study, many factors essential to the activity of senior citizens clubs were found to be common to a variety of clubs located in different areas and with different types of activities and administration. These results are useful to the development of an assessment index for senior citizens clubs.
