Development of leisure activity scale among modern Japanese elderly for prevention of cognitive decline

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08809
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: IWASA HAJIME 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (60435716)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): YOSHIDA YUKO (30321871)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 地域高齢者 / 余暇活動 / 認知機能低下抑制

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to conduct development of leisure activity scale among modern Japanese elderly for prevention of cognitive decline, through a home-visit survey for 316 older individuals (70-84 years old). Cognitive function test (including Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE], Memory Impairment Screen [MIS], and word-fluency test) as outcomes and 11-item leisure activity scale score as an independent variable were conducted in the survey.
1) Multiple regression analysis found a significant relationship between leisure activity score and all cognitive function test scores. 2) Each item in leisure activity scale except for “#11 competitive game” was significantly associated with MMSE score. 3) Chronbach’s alpha coefficient for the 11-item total score was 0.81. These results suggest the leisure activity scale among modern Japanese elderly has acceptable validity and reliability.

Free Research Field

老年心理学