Background: Although it is acknowledged that exercising self-determination in daily activities affects older people's health and well-being, few studies have focused on the explanatory factors for self-determination in daily life.
Objective: To investigate explanatory factors for self-determination in the context of community-dwelling older persons.
Method: This cross-sectional study combined two sets of data that included community-dwelling persons 80 years and older (n = 456). A bivariate logistic regression was performed to analyse the association of self-determination and a set of explanatory factors.
Results: The final bivariate logistic regression model revealed five explanatory factors that were significantly associated with perceiving reduced self-determination: high education (OR = 2.83), frailty (OR = 2.70), poor self-rated health (OR = 2.54), dissatisfaction with physical health (OR = 6.50), and receiving help from public homecare service (OR = 2.46).
Conclusion: Several explanatory factors related to the ageing body and environmental aspects were associated with reduced self-determination. To help older people maintain self-determination, healthcare professionals should consider using a person-centred and capability approach to care.
Keywords: Activities of daily living (ADL); aged 80 and over; capability; cross-sectional study; decision-making.