Relationships between interest, current, and future participation in activities: Japanese Interest Checklist for the Elderly

Abstract

Introduction: This study examined the relationship between interest, current participation, and desire for future participation in each activity listed in the Japanese Interest Checklist for the Elderly. Method: Data were collected from 375 community-dwelling older Japanese people through individual interviews using the revised Japanese Interest Checklist for the Elderly, which contains 25 activities. Responses in interest, current participation, and desire for future participation were analysed across activity and gender. Findings: Interest, current participation, and desire for future participation in activities correlated significantly and positively for both genders. Three different situations were identified: (1) participants could not currently participate in activities despite showing interest; (2) they were not currently engaged in activities but wished to participate them in the future; and (3) they preferred not to participate in the specific activities in the future, despite currently showing interest. Conclusion: There is a need for occupational therapists, therefore, to understand these findings in considering appropriate therapeutic options. Moreover, occupational therapists need to determine whether the person prefers not to participate in some activities, despite showing interest and/or participation in interests more generally. The College of Occupational Therapists Ltd.