[Factors determining frequency of social interaction in frail elderly individuals. A study of the elderly in urban environments].

OBJECTIVES

We examined the relationship between the frequency of social interaction and physical, psychological, and social functioning among frail, non-housebound elderly to determine the best way to support social exchange and help prevent frail elderly from becoming housebound.

METHODS

We recruited elderly individuals characterized as frail who lived in urban environments. A multidimensional examination was conducted that included interviews and physical performance tests. We defined an exchange as meeting and talking in person or talking by phone with friends, neighbors, relatives, or children living separately from the participants, and determined how many days a week frail elderly participants made contact with others. Independent variables were basic personality attributes; physical functioning, including eyesight, hearing, grip strength, masticatory force, ability to perform activities of daily living, walking ability, history of falls, and cognitive function; psychological functioning, including subjective health assessment, depression, and fear of falling; and social functioning, including ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living, social networks, and social activity. Multiple regression analysis was performed with SPSS 15.0 J to identify factors that could predict the frequency of contact with others. Data are expressed as mean +/- standard deviation.

RESULTS

Of 61 elderly individuals recruited, 58 non-housebound individuals were selected for our study (men, n = 12; women, n = 46; mean age, 81.2 +/- 6.0 years). We found that participants interacted with others 4.5 +/- 2.0 days per week. For both male and female participants, the following independent variables were analyzed for the ability to predict frequency of contact with others: hearing (low-pitched sound), hearing (high-pitched sound), and scores on the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) index of competence. Multiple regression analysis revealed that hearing (low-pitched sound) and results of the TMIG index of competence significantly predicted frequency of contact with others for female participants. Specifically, participants without hearing loss and with a higher total score on the TMIG index of competence contacted others more frequently.

CONCLUSION

Hearing and the ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living influence the frequency of contact with others. In particular, importance should be placed on hearing functions, which form the basis of communication. In addition to hearing evaluation and care (e.g., auditory test and hearing aid), maintaining the ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living is necessary to support social exchange.