Leisure Constraints on Senior Center Participation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine which factors most greatly influence senior center participation levels. Some of the factors which were analyzed include perceived degree of arthritis, perceived quality of life, and demographic variables such as age, gender, race, living arrangements, marital status, highest level of completed education, income, and method of transportation to and from the senior centers. It was hypothesized that all these factors have an effect on level of participation to some degree. The participants in this study included 74 women and 31 men who ranged in age from 55 to 88 years (M = 74.67) and attended one of three different senior centers in Monroe County, New York. In order to determine which factor or factors most affected senior center participation, a twenty-three question survey was developed. This survey was divided into four sections, senior center, arthritis, quality of life, and demographic information. Several multiple regressions calculations indicate that level of support from family and friends, gender, income, and living arrangements had the strongest correlation to senior center participation levels.