The Relation between Enjoyment of Outing and Self-efficacy for Outing among Elderly Residents in a Cold Snowy Region

Abstract

  Objectives: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of snowfall on self-efficacy among the elderly with the focus on homebound tendency.

  Method: We randomly selected 390 elderly residents in a cold snowy region. We mailed a questionnaire in both the snowy season and the non-snowy season. The survey content was their background (age, gender, whether there is a housemate), outing purpose up to 10 items, enjoyment for each selected outing purpose item, and self-efficacy for outing in general.

  Results: A total of 134 elderlies were analyzed (response rate 34.4%). The background factor affecting self-efficacy for outing was age in both seasons. Enjoyment of outing was positively related to self-efficacy only in the snowy season. The elderly with high self-efficacy reported they enjoyed “regular medical check-ups”, “visiting administrative or financial offices”, “role in the community” and “cleaning up the snow”.

  Conclusions: In order to raise self-efficacy for outing among elderly residents in cold snowy regions, it was suggested that they needed to be in good physical conditions and living environments. In addition, we found that the elderly with high self-efficacy include the enjoyment of their role and the enjoyment of interaction with others in addition to enjoyment of the purpose of outing.