Effects of Personal and Relational Activity on Happiness Among Older Adults: Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs

This study aimed to determine the path through which personal and relational participation activities in old age could lead to happiness based on basic psychological needs of older adults. An online survey was conducted on 213 older adults aged 65 years or older regarding their self-development activities, active social interaction, happiness, and basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Main analysis results are as follows. First, correlation analysis showed that both self-development activities and active social interaction positively predicted happiness. Second, mediation analysis showed that the relationship between self-development activities and happiness was mediated by competence and relatedness and that the relationship between active social activities and happiness was mediated by autonomy, competence, and relatedness. These results can be interpreted that personal activities in old age can make individuals feel competent and perceive their relationship needs as sufficient, while relational activities make individuals perceive themselves as autonomous and competent with satisfying relationships, leading to a sense of happiness. Finally, implications and limitations of this study and suggestions for future research directions are discussed.