Abstract
The awareness structures towards lifelong learning organized for the elderly people by the local governments were investigated. According to the radical changes in modern Japanese society, the needs of lifelong education have increased among Japanese elderly people. By the political advises, almost local governments, higher educational organizations have offered various kinds of external schools or classes for community dwellers. However, far less than half population has joined to these external schools and classes. Present study was aimed to investigate the possible reasons and factors why community dwellers do not participate in lifelong education schools and classes. Questionnaires consisted of the items which relates to the reason of not to participate, self-efficacy levels and intention of participation of social events were give to 133 community dwellers in satellite city of Osaka. The results showed that levels of self-efficacy of community dwellers strongly correlate to the levels of participation, and some of high self-efficacy people feel that they have less times and high financial cost make them difficult to participate. The results also showed the importance to analyze psychological factors why community dwellers participate and not participate in the events organized by the local government.
