Quantitative measurement and visualization of social networks among community-dwelling elderly people.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15KT0006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 特設分野
• Research Field: Neo-Gerontology
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Masumoto Kouhei 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (20402985)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 岡田 修一 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 教授 (70152303) ; 近藤 徳彦 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 教授 (70215458) ; 長ヶ原 誠 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 教授 (00227349) ; 片桐 恵子 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (80591742) ; 原田 和弘 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 特命助教 (50707875) ; 木村 哲也 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (60533528) ; 太田 能 神戸大学, 科学技術イノベーション研究科, 教授 (10272254) ; 貝原 俊也 神戸大学, システム情報学研究科, 教授 (70289114) ; 大川 剛直 神戸大学, システム情報学研究科, 教授 (30223738) ; 谷口 隆晴 神戸大学, システム情報学研究科, 准教授 (10396822)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-07-10 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 社会的ネットワーク / 地域コミュニティ / 高齢者 / つながり / 健康増進 / 幸福感

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Many developed countries are faced with the rapid aging of their populations and as a result, they have encountered severe problems. Mutual support and cooperation in neighborhoods and communities are essential for solving these problems. However, effective intervention strategies aimed at increasing older adults’ social networks have not yet been established.
The present study examined whether a university-led community intervention that provided communication opportunities could increase older Japanese adults’ neighborhood social networks. The present study found that participants of the intervention expanded their neighborhood social network, but non-participants did not. Additionally, we successfully measured face-to-face interactions by using wearable sensors, and identified conditions and changes in communication networks, and we developed a method of statistical testing to evaluate a program to promote communication among residents.

Free Research Field

認知科学