PURPOSE: To identify socio-demographic and activity-related factors that are associated with individual self-change in community organization activities.
METHODS: A self-administered anonymous mail questionnaire, composed of 15 socio-demographic variables (9 questions), 33 activity-related variables (10 questions) and 21 individual self-change related items, was distributed to all members of three branches of Dietary Habit Improvement Promoters in Gunma Prefecture. The response rate was 66.2% (n =1, 431) . The self-change related items were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis for developing individual self-change scales. Mean scale scores in socio-demographic and activity-related variables were compared using T test or one-way ANOVA. Multiple regression analysis was used in evaluating the impact of sociodemographic and activity-related variables on each individual self-change scale score.
RESULTS: Factor analysis indicated three factors: Independent Activity, Emotional Effects and Live Information. For each scale score of these three factors, statistically significant differences were observed in 43, 41, and 29 socio-demographic and activity-related variables, respectively. Twenty three variables were in common, and 8 single-response common variables were used as independent variables in multiple regression analysis. After multiple regression analysis, statistical significances were detected among 6 variables for Independent Activity scale score, 5 variables for Emotional Effects scale score, and 5 variables for Live Information scale score. The standardized partial regression coefficient of “degree of pleasure of the activity” for each scale score was highest among the coefficients of each independent variable.
CONCLUSION: This study showed that there are three elements of individual self-change in community organization activities by the Dietary Habit Improvement Promoters: Independent Activity, Emotional Effects and Live Information. For each element, “pleasure of the activity” would be important in the process of self-change, because it strongly influenced these elements of individual self-change.
