Effect of "freedom of choice" on Task Performance and Well-Being During Leisure Activity: An Intercultural Study Among Older Adults in China and France. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Minmin; Wang, Dahua; Guerrien, Alain
• Is Part Of: International journal of aging and human development. Volume 95:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 187
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: freedom of choice -- needs satisfaction -- task performance -- well-being -- self-determination theory -- cross-culture; Older people -- Periodicals; Aging -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Aging -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Periodicals; 305.26
• DOI: 10.1177/00914150211037656
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-4150

Abstract

Based on the perspective of self-determination theory (SDT) and the cross-cultural, the aim of the present study was to explore the effect of "freedom of choice" on the well-being of institution-dwelling older adults (elderly residences and nursing homes), in particular during leisure activities. Participants ( N China = 67, M age = 80.55 years; N France = 90, M age = 82.19 years) were randomly assigned to the "elderly-choice" group or "staff choice" group to participate in a puzzle game. Consistent with SDT, results showed that basic psychological needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, relatedness) was positively associated with elderly well-being. However, our findings did not demonstrate the importance of freedom of choice for promoting such well-being in the context of leisure activities for either culture; this may be related to the recompense of close relationships or else the particularity of the elderly population. Interestingly, competence satisfaction was observed to act as a complete mediating variable between task performance and well-being only in the French population.