Have programs encouraging social participation in older adults contributed to health promotion and neighborhood network formation?

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K11900
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Community health nursing
• Research Institution: Kanagawa Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: SATO MIYUKI 神奈川工科大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (80550318)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 芳賀 博 桜美林大学, 自然科学系, 教授 (00132902) ; 齊藤 恭平 東洋大学, ライフデザイン学部, 教授 (40279443)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 地域高齢者 / 社会参加 / ヘルスプロモーション / 自主活動 / 地域づくり / アクションリサーチ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this research was to clarify the effects of health promotion and neighborhood network formation after 10 years of community activities managed by and for residents, by reviewing the roles of older adults in the community, as well as the challenges and factors affecting the continuation of community activities. It was suggested that community activities managed by and for residents promote participants’ mental health and social participation and enhance mutual assistance within the community. However, no long-term care prevention effect was found. Activity continuation factors included strong support from the government at the start of the activity, official recognition as a community association, which suggested the importance of creating an environment amenable to activities. One challenge was the fact that, since there are no successors as aging progresses, these activities are reaching the limits of what can be managed by older adults alone.

Free Research Field

公衆衛生看護