Adaptation to nursing home: The role of leisure activities in light of motivation and relatedness. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Altintas, Emin; De Benedetto, Giorgio; Gallouj, Karim
• Is Part Of: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics. Volume 70(2017)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Relatedness -- Motivation -- Adaptation to nursing home -- Leisure activities -- Elderly people; Aging -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.26
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2016.12.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-4943

Abstract

Highlights: Psychological factors and leisure activities in a Nursing Home environment. Environment contributes to adaptability, self-determination and therefore, improved leisure practice. Relatedness and motivation are the pivotal adaptive behaviors in nursing homes. Abstract: Based on the motivational sequence described in Self-Determination Theory, this study explored the relationship between relatedness, motivation, adaptation and leisure in nursing homes. We formulated the hypothesis that the variables of the study would be found in an integrative mediational sequence: Participation in leisure activities → Relatedness → Self-determined motivation → Adaptation to nursing homes. Participants (N = 112, mean age = 84.17) were invited to complete questionnaires assessing these variables. Results of the path analysis found an unsatisfactory fit for this model but revealed another model (Model 2) with a good fit index: Relatedness → Participation in leisure activities → Self-determined motivation → Adaptation to nursing homes → Relatedness. Model 2 fitted better than model 1: the Chi-square values were not significant, Chi 2 (df = 2) = 5.1, p = 0.078 and other indices were satisfactory (CFI = 0.930, RMSEA = 0.049 and NFI = 0.918). These results suggest that feeling connected and secure in the relationships with others, and integrated as an individual to the group contribute to enhance leisure practice, self-determined motivation, and finally adaptation to life environment. Consequently, the relatedness promotes leisure activities practice which represents a central adaptive behavior in nursing homes.