[Relationships between participation in community activities and psychosocial and physical health of community-dwelling elderly].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to clarify relationships between participation in community activities and psychosocial and physical health of community-dwelling elderly.

METHODS

The participants of the present study were 413 people selected on the basis of a random 1/3 extraction of people aged 65 or older and living in a rural community in Miyagi prefecture. The baseline survey was conducted in February 2008. One year later, we conducted a follow-up survey to clarify how participation in community activities influenced the elderly. Finally, we analyzed data for 218 people, focusing on influences on psychosocial and physical health using the logistic regression model. The state of community activity was treated as a dependent variable, and mental and physical health indicators were assessed as the independent variables.

RESULTS

Of the elderly sample, 63 persons were found to be frequent participants in community activities, 60 were infrequent participants, and 95 did not participate. The frequently participating individuals displayed significantly better results for declines in depression (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13-0.89), and social participation (OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05-0.29), as well as the TMIG index of competence (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.78) as compared with those who did not participate.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that community activities prevent deterioration of mental health, improve social health, and maintain higher-level functional capacity among community-dwelling elderly individuals.