A STUDY OF PARTICIPATION IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE ELDERLY IN COMMUNITIES IN THAILAND

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study participation in recreational activities of the
elderly in the lower central region, Thailand. This cross-sectional study included 420
recreational activity organizers who had managed recreational activities in the lower central
region, Thailand. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive
statistics.
The results revealed that most participants were female (69.0%), aged over 50 years
(37.9%). Most were at the bachelor's degree level (57.9%), have job positions as
officers/employees (54.5%), and working for the Subdistrict Administrative Organization
(45.0 %).
The overall level of participation in recreational activities of the elderly in the lower
central region, Thailand was at a high level (????̅ = 3.90, SD = 0.780). When separated by
categories, the participation in cooperating activity was highest (????̅ = 4.01, SD = 0.768) followed
by the participation in organizing recreational activities (????̅ = 3.92, SD = 0.830), the participation
in solving problems that arise in organizing recreational activities (????̅ = 3.86, SD = 0.802) and
the participation in making recommendations for managing problems (????̅ = 3.81, SD = 0.822),
respectively.
Elders should be asked about the activities they want to participate in and expectations
that will be received from participating in recreational activities to be used in planning
recreational activities.