Abstract
BackgroundPopulation-based data examining the relationship between social participation (SP) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are scarce. This study examined the cross-sectional relationship between SP and IADL in community-dwelling elderly persons.MethodsSelf-administered questionnaires were mailed to 23 710 residents aged ≥65 years in Nara, Japan (response rate: 74.2%). Data from 14 956 respondents (6935 males and 8021 females) without dependency in basic activities of daily living (ADL) were analyzed. The number, type, and frequency of participation in social groups (SGs) were used to measure SP. SGs included volunteer groups, sports groups, hobby groups, senior citizens’ clubs, neighborhood community associations, and cultural groups. IADL was evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence. Logistic regression models stratified by gender were used.ResultsAfter adjustment for putative confounding factors, including demographics, health status, life-style habits, ADL, depression, cognitive function, social networks, social support, and social roles, participation in various SGs among both genders was inversely associated with poor IADL, showing a significant dose-response relationship between an increasing number of SGs and a lower proportion of those with poor IADL (P for trend <0.001). A significant inverse association between frequent participation and poor IADL was observed for all types of SGs among females, whereas the association was limited to sports groups and senior citizens’ clubs among males.ConclusionsOur results show that participation in a variety of SGs is associated with independent IADL among the community-dwelling elderly, regardless of gender. However, the beneficial effects of frequent participation on IADL may be stronger for females than for males.
Highlights
Social participation (SP) is considered a key dimension of successful aging.[1]
Because there were no females with poor instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) who participated in neighborhood community associations more than once per week, the frequency of neighborhood community associations was re-categorized as non-participation, several times a year, and once or more a month in the logistic regression analysis
The present study investigated the association between IADL and social participation (SP) according to the type and frequency of participation in social groups in a cross-sectional study of 14 956 residents aged 65 years or over
Summary
Social participation (SP) is considered a key dimension of successful aging.[1]. Previous studies have found that SP is a determinant of many favorable health outcomes, such as longevity,[2,3] better physical[4] or cognitive[5] performance, and better mental health.[6]. Population-based data examining the relationship between social participation (SP) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are scarce. Results: After adjustment for putative confounding factors, including demographics, health status, life-style habits, ADL, depression, cognitive function, social networks, social support, and social roles, participation in various SGs among both genders was inversely associated with poor IADL, showing a significant dose-response relationship between an increasing number of SGs and a lower proportion of those with poor IADL (P for trend
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