A Study of Ways of Community Support Utilizing Personal Networks

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13934
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 08020:Social welfare-related
• Research Institution: Utsunomiya University (2021-2022); Jichi Medical University (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Nohara Yasuhiro 宇都宮大学, 地域デザイン科学部, コーディネーター (80833053)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 人的ネットワーク / 健康指標 / 中山間地域 / 社会的孤立 / ネットワーク分析 / 地域福祉 / 持続性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, the connections with others (human networks) held by individual elderly people in hilly and mountainous areas were visualized, the network structure was mathematically evaluated, and survey analysis was conducted on the relevance to health indicators. As a result, firstly, the changes in human network structure in the settlement over time were measured, and the impact of COVID-19 and changes in roles within the community were captured. Second, by comparing and analyzing two districts in different prefectures, it was clarified that there is a correlation between human networks and health indicators. Thirdly, it contributed to the activation of community welfare practice in the target area by returning a certain evaluation of the target area obtained in this research while consulting with the local side.

Free Research Field

都市計画、地域福祉

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、地域福祉実践の場である集落単位（対象者の一部だけでなく全て）の人的ネットワーク構造を可視化し、評価を行い、その成果を地域福祉実践に活用するに至った一連のプロセスに学術的・社会的意義がある。また、人的ネットワーク構造の経年変化を捉えた貴重な研究成果であると考える。さらに、人的ネットワークの把握について生活環境の異なる２つの地区を比較して調査を実施し、人的ネットワークと健康指標との相関関係を明らかにした点についても学術的意義がある。