Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110780

Naoki Kondo, MD, PhD, Junko Minai, RN, MLS, Mari Kazama, RN, MLS, Hisashi Imai, PhD, Yasuhisa Takeda, MD, PhD, and Zentaro Yamagata, MD, PhD. Department of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Tamaho, Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan, +81-55-273-9566, nkondo@yamanashi.ac.jp

BACKGROUND: A few studies have tested the effects of social networks for maintaining independence among older adults in Japan.

METHODS: A cohort study was conducted to investigate the relationships between social network characteristics and onset of activities of daily living (ADL) disability. The study population consisted of a randomly selected group of 587 self-sufficient people aged 65 years or more living in Yamanashi prefecture, Japan. Information concerning social network characteristics was gathered in a baseline survey undertaken in Oct. 2003. A follow-up survey was conducted in Dec. 2004. Onset of ADL disability was determined by the certification of care need of the public long-term care insurance. Using the available sample data for 543 participants (92.5%), relative risks of onset of ADL disability for social network characteristics were estimated by multivariate logistic models, which were adjusted by potential confounding factors.

RESULTS: During a year, 5 deaths and 34 onsets of ADL disability were confirmed. Being married, higher social activity level, frequent neighborhood communication, and having someone or someplace for counsel reduced the risk of onset of ADL disability. For example, relative risk for a point increase of the score (ranged 0-6) of the Social Activity Check Sheet for Vigorous Life (validity and reliability of the index were already examined) was 0.51, 95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.71. Gender-stratified analysis showed that the effects of social networks for ADL in men were stronger than in women.

CONCLUSION: Extensive social networks are associated with maintaining independence among older adults in Japan.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Describe social network factors that affect independence of older adults in Japan.
• Discuss how Japanese rural community characteristics are related to the health of older adults.

Keywords: Community Participation, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.