2014 Volume 62 Issue 2 Pages 101-114
In the present research, a new scale to measure motivation for social activities among persons who are elderly was developed, based on Self-Determination Theory. The participants were 278 people (72 men and 195 women, 11 of unreported gender) with a mean age of 72.0 years (SD=5.9) who were living in urban areas and attending social activities. Through pilot interviews, 37 items measuring motivation for social activities were identified. The results of a factor analysis revealed 5 factors, consisting of 22 items: “Self-Growth Orientation,” “Self-Fulfillment Orientation,” “Regulation of Losses,” “Following Others,” and “Contribution to Others.” The reliability and validity of the new scale was confirmed, and each factor was compared to the results of previously published research and examined for consistency with the theory.
