The elderly pleasure in engaging in activities is an essential factor for their well-being. Investigations show that the practice of pleasant activities works as an intermediate variable in preventing and coping with psychological disorders, negative effects of functionality loss, widowhood and lack of familiar contact, as well as predict physical and psychological well-being. The literature shows that, in Brazil, investigations about this field are still incipient, and there are not validated instruments which measure the involvement of Brazilian elderly in pleasant activities. The aim of this study was to review the literature to identify and compare instruments which measure the frequency of elderly people's involvement in pleasant activities, and then suggest an instrument to be submitted to a cross-cultural validation process in Brazil. The searched databases were: CAPES, SciElo, LILACS and Medline. We found no Brazilian instruments that measure the elderly's involvement in pleasant activities. They were found three international instruments: The California Older Person's Pleasant Events Schedule (COPPES); The Pleasant Events Schedule-AD (PES-AD) and The Pool Activity Level (PAL). All instruments had good psychometric properties, but COPPES was the one which sounded the most appropriate for a cross-cultural validation process in Brazil. An instrument of this kind may contribute to further researches, planning and evaluations of interventions and preventive strategies focused in promoting elderly people's well-being in Brazil.
Elderly; Pleasant Activities; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of life; Psychometric Instruments; Cross-Cultural Validation
