Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Japan University of Health Sciences, Satte, Saitama, Japan.
Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2017 Oct;17(10):1522-1526. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12909. Epub 2016 Oct 10.
Previous studies have shown that social relationships positively contribute to the functioning of older adults. However, the particular aspects of social relationships that are most predictive remain unknown. Consequently, the current study aimed to clarify what elements of social relationships impacted the maintenance of functioning among older adults.
The present study used baseline data collected in 2011, and follow-up surveys were carried out 3 years later. Participants included individuals aged 65 years or older who lived in a suburban community in Japan. A total of 434 participants met inclusion criteria for the study and were included in analysis. The Index of Social Interaction measure consists of five subscales (independence, social curiosity, interaction, participation and feeling of safety), and was used to assess the multiple elements of social relationships.
After controlling for age, sex, disease status and mobility in 2011, the results showed that the social curiosity subscale was significantly associated with functional status after 3 years (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.02-1.63). Other Index of Social Interaction subscales were non-significant.
The current study suggests that interaction with environment and multifaceted social relationships have the strongest impact on functional ability for older adults in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1522-1526.
先前的研究表明，社会关系对老年人的功能有积极的贡献。然而，哪些社会关系的特定方面最具预测性仍不清楚。因此，本研究旨在阐明社会关系的哪些要素影响了老年人功能的维持。
本研究使用了 2011 年收集的基线数据，并在 3 年后进行了随访调查。参与者包括居住在日本郊区社区的 65 岁或以上的个体。共有 434 名符合研究纳入标准的参与者被纳入分析。社会互动指数测量由五个分量表（独立性、社会好奇心、互动、参与和安全感）组成，用于评估社会关系的多个要素。
在控制了 2011 年的年龄、性别、疾病状况和活动能力后，结果显示，社会好奇心分量表与 3 年后的功能状态显著相关（OR 1.29，95%CI 1.02-1.63）。其他社会互动指数分量表没有显著相关性。
本研究表明，与环境的互动和多方面的社会关系对日本老年人的功能能力有最强的影响。老年医学与老年病学国际 2017；17：1522-1526。
