National Institute for Minamata Disease, Ministry of the Environment, 4058-18 Hama, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan.
Doctoral Program of Clinical Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 16;18(24):13270. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182413270.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the differences in meaningful activities and psychosomatic function depending on the driving status of community-dwelling older adults. Data from 594 older adults were obtained, including activities meaningful to individuals and psychosomatic functions, such as grip strength, depression, cognitive function, and ability of activity. Participants were divided into active driving (n = 549) and after driving cessation (n = 45) groups. In addition, the active driving group was operationally divided into three groups: high-frequency group (n = 387), medium group (n = 119), and infrequent group (n = 42). In the after driving cessation group, grip strength, and Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence scores were significantly lower. Furthermore, the proportion of apathy and physical and social frailty was significantly higher in the after driving cessation group. Regarding meaningful activity, domestic life scores in the after driving cessation group were significantly higher than those of the active driving group. Decreased driving frequency in the active driving group was associated with weak muscle strength, lack of interest, and low activity. This study demonstrated that meaningful activity differed based on the driving status. Hence, we should support the activities of older adults who are considering driving cessation.
本横断面研究旨在分析社区居住的老年人驾驶状况对有意义活动和身心功能的影响。共纳入 594 名老年人，包括个人有意义的活动和身心功能，如握力、抑郁、认知功能和活动能力。参与者分为活跃驾驶组（n=549）和停止驾驶组（n=45）。此外，活跃驾驶组进一步分为高频组（n=387）、中频组（n=119）和低频组（n=42）。在停止驾驶组中，握力和日本科学技术振兴机构能力指数得分显著降低。此外，停止驾驶组的冷漠、躯体和社会虚弱的比例显著更高。在有意义的活动方面，停止驾驶组的家庭生活得分显著高于活跃驾驶组。活跃驾驶组的驾驶频率下降与肌肉力量减弱、缺乏兴趣和活动减少有关。本研究表明，有意义的活动因驾驶状况而异。因此，我们应该支持考虑停止驾驶的老年人的活动。
