The Influence of Psychological Needs in Mexican Older Adults' Leisure Motivations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to understand if and how the three elements of the basic needs theory play a role in Mexican older adults' leisure motivations. A case study research strategy was chosen. Data were collected using individual interviews with 18 participants (6 men and 12 women). After the data were analyzed, three core themes emerged: the fulfillment of psychological needs is not always a precondition for leisure engagement, traditional ways of conceptualizing the need for relatedness and the need for competence need to be reconsidered, and gender inequality and gender roles affect women's need for autonomy in their leisure engagement.

KEYWORDS:

• basic needs theory
• leisure
• psychological needs
• Mexican older adults
• motivations

Notes

1 The Mexican government defines older adults based on chronological age: 60 years or older. However, I recognize that this definition is subject to a more complex understanding, which links age with physiological, psychological, and social domains.

2 To ensure privacy, pseudonyms were assigned to all participants, individuals that they named, and places mentioned.