Abstract
BackgroundRotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs) involve group financial self-help activities. These voluntary financial cooperative associations—mujin in Japanese—are found in some rural areas of Japan. Cross-sectional evidence suggests that active participation in mujin correlates with rich social capital and better functional capacities among older adults. However, the effect of mujin on subsequent health outcomes is unknown.MethodsIn 2003, we conducted a baseline interview survey of 583 functionally independent adults randomly selected from Yamanashi Prefecture residents aged 65 years or older. They were followed up until 2011. We used proportional hazards models, and factor analysis of 8 mujin-related questions identified 2 components: the “intensity and attitude” and “financing” aspects of mujin.ResultsThe hazard ratios (HRs) for incident functional disability—identified by using the public long-term care insurance database—per 1-SD increase in factor scores were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.68–0.99) for the intensity and attitude score and 1.21 (1.07–1.38) for financing score. Adjustments for age, sex, marital status, household composition, physical health, education, income, and other factor scores only slightly attenuated these HRs. The results for mortality models were very similar to those for incident functional disability.ConclusionsROSCA-type activities in Japan could have beneficial effects on the health of older adults if used primarily for the purpose of friendship. Mujin for aggressively financial purposes might be somewhat harmful, as such activities might reflect the “dark side” of social capital, ie, overly demanding expectations of group conformity.
Highlights
Accumulating evidence suggests social capital is an important social determinant of individual health.[1]
Putnam introduced the concept of the financial cooperative association, called a rotating savings and credit association (ROSCA), which is a form of informal local microfinance that builds strong structural social capital.[2,3]
In a representative sample of elderly residents of Yamanashi, we found that individuals who intensively and enthusiastically participated in mujin were more likely to maintain functional capacity
Summary
Accumulating evidence suggests social capital is an important social determinant of individual health.[1]. Putnam introduced the concept of the financial cooperative association, called a rotating savings and credit association (ROSCA), which is a form of informal local microfinance that builds strong structural social capital.[2,3] In a ROSCA, members regularly make a fixed deposit at scheduled meetings, after which a different assigned member takes the aggregate deposit. This practice continues until each member has taken an aggregate deposit. Mujin for aggressively financial purposes might be somewhat harmful, as such activities might reflect the “dark side” of social capital, ie, overly demanding expectations of group conformity
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