Yukai Lu1, Sanae Matsuyama1, Fumiya Tanji2, Tatsui Otsuka1, Yasutake Tomata1, Ichiro Tsuji1. 1. Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Informatics and Public Health, Tohoku University School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. 2. Faculty of Nursing, Japanese Red Cross Akita College of Nursing, Akita, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Our study examined the association between social participation and healthy aging using a community-based cohort study among Japanese older adults. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in Ohsaki City, Japan, and included 7226 participants aged ≥65 years at the baseline survey in 2006. We obtained information on frequency of participation in 3 types of community activities (ie, neighborhood activities, hobbies, and volunteer activities) at baseline. Exposure was measured by the number of types of community activities participated in and participants were categorized into 4 groups (ie, none, 1 type, 2 types, and 3 types). The primary outcome was healthy aging as assessed by a questionnaire survey conducted in 2017, and was defined as meeting the following 4 criteria: free of disability, free of depression, high health-related quality of life, and high life satisfaction. We used multiple logistic regression models to calculate the corresponding odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: During 11 years of follow-up, 574 (7.9%) participants attained healthy aging. Compared with participants not participating in any activity, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.90 (1.40, 2.59) for those participating in 1 type, 2.49 (1.84, 3.38) for 2 types, and 3.06 (2.30, 4.07) for 3 types (p for trend < .0001). Furthermore, for each type of community activity, a higher frequency of participation was related to higher probability of healthy aging. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that social participation is associated with the promotion of healthy aging, and that the benefits were observed across different types of community activities.
BACKGROUND: Our study examined the association between social participation and healthy aging using a community-based cohort study among Japanese older adults. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in Ohsaki City, Japan, and included 7226 participants aged ≥65 years at the baseline survey in 2006. We obtained information on frequency of participation in 3 types of community activities (ie, neighborhood activities, hobbies, and volunteer activities) at baseline. Exposure was measured by the number of types of community activities participated in and participants were categorized into 4 groups (ie, none, 1 type, 2 types, and 3 types). The primary outcome was healthy aging as assessed by a questionnaire survey conducted in 2017, and was defined as meeting the following 4 criteria: free of disability, free of depression, high health-related quality of life, and high life satisfaction. We used multiple logistic regression models to calculate the corresponding odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: During 11 years of follow-up, 574 (7.9%) participants attained healthy aging. Compared with participants not participating in any activity, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.90 (1.40, 2.59) for those participating in 1 type, 2.49 (1.84, 3.38) for 2 types, and 3.06 (2.30, 4.07) for 3 types (p for trend < .0001). Furthermore, for each type of community activity, a higher frequency of participation was related to higher probability of healthy aging. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that social participation is associated with the promotion of healthy aging, and that the benefits were observed across different types of community activities.