Active Older People's Motivation to Go Out and Its Relationship with Their Travel Behavior

Abstract

This study examined active older people's motivation to go out and its relationship with their travel behavior, through questionnaire surveys administered to healthy older people who regularly participated in local activities in Kashiwa City. Considering motivation as a possible psychological factor that influences travel behavior, this study looked at (a) the relationship between motivation to go out and travel frequency, (b) differences in motivation depending on age, and (c) the characteristics of older people with elevated motivation. Motivation affected travel behavior to a greater degree than did physical fitness or travel capability. Older people up to 74 years and those 75 years and above showed different patterns in travel behavior and motivation. Personal values also had significant effects, with openness to change positively correlating with motivation to travel and participation in local activities.