Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the morale of older people living in local cities by comparing the relationships between morale and life-style factors in 4 groups classified according to gender and age-stages (young-old; under 75 years old and old-old; over 75 years old). Data were collected from 1,269 males and females aged 60 or more in the communities. A questionnaire consisted of a PGC morale scale and 16 life-style factors. Quantity theory I was used to evaluate the compounded contribution of 16 life-style factors (explanatory variables) to morale (dependent variable). Morale is higher in old-old females than males and young-old females. The contribution of life-style factors to morale is greater in old-old people than in young-old people. For old-old peoples, a relationship between morale and sleeping condition was found. For old-old people, many factors such as occupation, satisfaction with economic state, ADL, recognition of physical fitness or health, and exercise frequency, volunteer activity, a state of go out, the existence of best friends, and future plan or purpose relate to morale. The results suggest that the life-style factors relevant to morale differ between age-stages (young-old and old-old). Therefore, plans according to age-stages will be needed to improve old people's morale.
