Senior center utilization by black elderly adults: social, attitudinal and knowledge correlates

This study examined factors that affect utilization of senior centers by three groups of black elderly adults: attenders (n = 46) and nonattenders (n = 33) of a neighborhood senior center in one community and nonattenders (n = 27) in a comparable community without a neighborhood senior center. Variables investigated included social contact (with family and with friends), attitudes (disengagement potential, acceptability to others, commitment to become involved in senior centers) and knowledge (perception of senior centers). Results of the multivariate analysis of variance showed that sex, age, marital status, health, and transportation did not have a significant effect on the six variables studied. The three groups differed in commitment to become involved in senior centers, perception of senior centers, contact with family, and contact with friends. Similarities between the attenders and nonattenders in the comparable community suggest that the latter group are potential senior center participants.