Engagement or Enjoyment? Attitudes of Older Adults in Group Lunch vs. Lifelong Learning Programs

Purpose: This study explores aging attitudes among older adults participating in two distinct community programs: neighborhood lunch (NLP) and lifelong learning (LLP) programs. Methods: Participants were recruited from NLP and LLP programs within the same county in Florida, and an aging attitudes scale originally developed by German researchers was administered. Results: A total of 193 participants, with a mean age of 73.2 (SD = 7.78), completed the survey, with 43% from NLP. LLP participants scored significantly higher on statements associated with engagement, such as “would like to have responsibilities”, “have a task”, “do unpaid volunteer work”, and “help others” (p < 0.001). Conversely, NLP participants rated higher on statements reflecting enjoyment-oriented attitudes, such as “no longer have to contribute to society”, “want to enjoy life”, and “finally want to rest and relax” (all p < 0.001). Exploratory factor analysis using principal component extraction and varimax rotation revealed a robust two-factor structure that aligned with theoretical expectations of engagement and enjoyment orientations, explaining 60% of the variance (30% per factor). The scales demonstrated acceptable reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.764 (CITC: 0.457–0.660) for the 4-item engagement scale and 0.634 (CITC: 0.379–0.499) for the 3-item enjoyment scale. These results indicate good internal consistency, with each item contributing meaningfully to the overall construct. Regression analyses on “Engagement”, controlling for age, race, marital status, and education (F = 8.49, p < 0.001), showed lower engagement attitudes in the NLP group (β = −0.564, p < 0.001). Similarly, analyses on “Enjoyment” (F = 6.33, p < 0.001) found higher enjoyment in the NLP group (β = 0.331, p = 0.014) but lower enjoyment among those over 75 (β = −0.191, p = 0.02). Discussion: These findings suggest that LLP participants are more engagement-oriented, while NLP participants favor enjoyment in their aging attitudes. The validated 7-item scale provides a practical tool for assessing aging attitudes in community-dwelling older adults, offering insights for developing tailored programs and services.