A Study on the Effects of Community Cafes on the Prevention of Social Isolation among the Elderly

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13778
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 08020:Social welfare-related
• Research Institution: Toyo University
• Principal Investigator: YAMAMOTO MIKA 東洋大学, 福祉社会デザイン学部, 教授 (80383363)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 社会福祉学 / 地域福祉 / コミュニティカフェ / ソーシャルキャピタル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted a study on how community cafes, which are base facilities for residents, affect participants, operators, and volunteers. (1) For the participants, it was found that participating in a community cafe; brought mental stability by interacting with people of the same age and different generations. In addition, through browsing the website, there was some two-way exchange. (2) It was found that the management side can also expand social capital within the housing complex through the community cafe. In addition, it became clear that it is possible to foster an awareness of "community contribution"

Free Research Field

社会福祉学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

コミュニティカフェの意義や役割はどのようなものであるかを明らかにすることは、交流拠点があることが、地域社会をどう変容させるのか、またソーシャルキャピタルの拡大方法を研究するという学術的な意義がある。また、社会的にも、高齢者などの社会的孤立防止の方法論や地域福祉実践者の介入・援助技術などを開発することができる点で有意義である。