The effect of achievement motive on social participation, ikigai, and role expectations in community-dwelling elderly people by using cross-sectional research

Background: Achievement motive is defined as the intention to achieve one's goals. It is an important consideration in rehabilitation. However, previous studies have not demonstrated the causal relationship between achievement motive and a more enhanced quality of life such as the concept of ikigai and role expectation. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of achievement motive on ikigai, social participation, and role expectations of community-dwelling elderly people. Method: Participants were community-dwelling elderly people in day-service centers. A total of 281 participants (male: 127, female: 154) answered the self-administered questionnaire in cross-sectional research. The questionnaire comprised demographic data and scales that evaluated achievement motive, social participation, ikigai, and role expectation. We studied the causal relationship established on our hypothesized model by a structural equation modeling approach. Results: We checked the standardized path coefficients and the modification indices, and the modified model were good fit statistics: CFI = .984, TLI = .983, RMSEA = .050, 90% CI [.044, 055]. Achievement motive had a significant direct effect on ikigai (direct effect = .455, p value = .000), a significant indirect effect on ikigai via social participation or role expectation (indirect effect = .170, p value = .000) and a total effect on ikigai (total effect = .615). Discussion: This result suggested that enhancing the intention to achieve one's goals enables participants to feel a spirit of challenge with a purpose and a sense of fulfillment in daily living. At the same time, engaging in important activities for oneself as well as recognizing one's role in society enables participants to experience a willingness to help others. We recommend that rehabilitation therapists collaborate with their clients to form new goals based on the client's achievement motive.