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For how many days and what types of group activities should older Japanese adults be involved in to maintain health? A 4-year longitudinal study

Author

Listed:
  • Kumiko Nonaka
  • Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Hiroshi Murayama
  • Masami Hasebe
  • Takashi Koike
  • Erika Kobayashi
  • Yoshinori Fujiwara

Abstract

Objective: Studies have suggested that frequent participation in social groups contributes to the well-being of older people. The primary aim of this study was to identify the number of days older adults should participate in the activities of social groups to maintain their health for 4 years. This study also aimed to examine whether the effective frequency differs by the type of social group activity. Method: We examined a prospective cohort of 1,320 community-dwelling older adults over 65 years of age, who responded to both a baseline and a follow-up mail survey, in a suburban city of Tokyo, Japan. The dependent variable was the change in functional competence during 4 years. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the effects of participation in the activities of the 5 most common social groups among older Japanese on maintaining functional competence. Results: Nine hundred and ninety-four participants (76.5%) maintained their functional competence for 4 years. The results of the logistic regression analyses showed that participating in alumni groups less than once a month and being an inactive member were associated with higher odds of maintaining functional competence, after controlling for socioeconomic, demographic and baseline health status. Additionally, the odds of maintaining functional competence for 4 years increased upon participating in volunteer groups once a month or more. These results were also confirmed using logistic regression analysis, even after adjustment for the effects of participation in other social groups. Discussion: The results indicated the effectiveness of volunteer activities that fulfill a social role in maintaining health. Therefore, older adults should be encouraged to participate in activities of volunteer groups at least once a month. Additionally, older adults can obtain positive health outcomes through less frequent participation in alumni groups, compared with the activities of volunteer groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Kumiko Nonaka & Hiroyuki Suzuki & Hiroshi Murayama & Masami Hasebe & Takashi Koike & Erika Kobayashi & Yoshinori Fujiwara, 2017. "For how many days and what types of group activities should older Japanese adults be involved in to maintain health? A 4-year longitudinal study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0183829
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183829
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nancy Morrow-Howell & Jim Hinterlong & Philip A. Rozario & Fengyan Tang, 2003. "Effects of Volunteering on the Well-Being of Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(3), pages 137-145.
    2. Marieke Van Willigen, 2000. "Differential Benefits of Volunteering Across the Life Course," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 55(5), pages 308-318.
    3. Musick, Marc A. & Wilson, John, 2003. "Volunteering and depression: the role of psychological and social resources in different age groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 259-269, January.
    4. Poortinga, Wouter, 2006. "Social relations or social capital? Individual and community health effects of bonding social capital," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(1), pages 255-270, July.
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    1. Trine Filges & Anu Siren & Torben Fridberg & Bjørn C. V. Nielsen, 2020. "Voluntary work for the physical and mental health of older volunteers: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), December.
    2. Abe, Takumi & Seino, Satoshi & Hata, Toshiki & Yamashita, Mari & Ohmori, Nobuaki & Kitamura, Akihiko & Shinkai, Shoji & Fujiwara, Yoshinori, 2023. "Transportation modes and social participation in older drivers and non-drivers: Results from urbanised Japanese cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    3. Kazuki Yokoyama & Hikaru Ihira & Yuriko Matsuzaki-Kihara & Atsushi Mizumoto & Ryo Miyajima & Takeshi Sasaki & Naoki Kozuka & Nozomu Ikeda, 2022. "Association between Productive Roles and Frailty Factors among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-9, August.
    4. Kazushige Ide & Taishi Tsuji & Satoru Kanamori & Seungwon Jeong & Yuiko Nagamine & Katsunori Kondo, 2020. "Social Participation and Functional Decline: A Comparative Study of Rural and Urban Older People, Using Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study Longitudinal Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    5. Motoki Tamura & Shinji Hattori & Taishi Tsuji & Katsunori Kondo & Masamichi Hanazato & Kanami Tsuno & Hiroyuki Sakamaki, 2021. "Community-Level Participation in Volunteer Groups and Individual Depressive Symptoms in Japanese Older People: A Three-Year Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis Using JAGES Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-13, July.

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