Challenges of healthy lifestyle, health disadvantages, and justice in aging: International comparison

Background: Healthy lifestyle is essential for the successful aging in U.S. and Japan and is strongly emphasized by the Health People 2020 to prevent chronic illness. The U.S. population have still experienced different socioeconomic disadvantage which leads to large health disparities and its justice than the Japanese counter parts.

Objectives: The study investigates comparison of socioeconomic characteristics in health disadvantages and health justice by considering healthy behaviors in both nations. The study evaluates how perceived mental/physical/social health and socioeconomic characteristics are associated with health disparities and health justice in aging in two economically advanced nations.

Method: The Global COE Survey was conducted by Osaka University in Japan (n=5313) and in U.S. (n=4,934) in 2011. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the impacts of psycho-economic/social/physical norms and cultural differences on health disparities in both nations under different healthcare systems. The study analyzes the effects of socioeconomic and health disadvantages (e.g., social- support networking, positive social values, healthcare coverage, and cultural background) on health justice.

Findings/Results: Perceived health and healthy lifestyle are negatively and significantly related to health disparities. There is clear cut difference of psycho-economic behavioral aspects with social norms which are associated with health justice between U.S. and Japan. The finding shows an increase in happiness has a significant influence on health justice.

Conclusions/Recommendations: The U.S. spend more healthcare per person than Japan. many psycho-economic and social norms lead to health disparities with engaging unhealthy. Understanding social value is important to identify health justice.