Contents and Construct of Subjective Enjoyment of Community-dwelling Elderly People Performing Physical Activities

[Purpose] Social participation and physical activities are important for elderly people to extend their healthy life expectancy. It is necessary to feel subjective enjoyment in order to continue a healthy life. While the enjoyment of a psychosocial situation has been reported, the enjoyment of elderly people in continuing social participation and physical activities is unknown. The purpose of this study was to clarify the contents of subjective enjoyment of elderly people and the construct of enjoyment. [Subjects] The subjects were 412 community-dwelling elderly people. [Methods] We asked 412 elderly people about their kinds of subjective enjoyment and reasons for this enjoyment, using our original questionnaire. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the model fit for enjoyment using parameters of the chi-square value (χ2), Goodness of Fit Index (GFI), Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). [Results] The most common item of enjoyment was karaoke. Three factors of activity were “Cognition & Tasks”, “Self-Assertiveness Social Relations”, and “Emotions”. The model fit met acceptable levels. [Conclusion] Elderly people expect to continue social participation and physical activities incorporating these 3 factors into their activities.