2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
The effects of volunteer activities to prevent functional disability on mental health in middle-aged and older people
| Project/Area Number |
21700685
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Applied health science
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| Research Institution | Physical Fitness Research Institute |
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Principal Investigator |
KAI Yuko (財)明治安田厚生事業団体力医学研究所, 副主任研究員 (20450752)
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| Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha) |
ARAI Hirokazu 法政大学, 文学部心理学科, 講師 (30419460)
KANAMORI Satoru 順天堂大学, 医療看護学部, 助教 (20584113)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2009 – 2010
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| Keywords | 地域保健 / ボランティア活動 / 介護予防 / 運動 / 地域介入研究 |
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| Research Abstract |
The purpose of this research was to clarify the effects on mental health of volunteer activities aimed at preventing functional disability by promoting physical activity. Study 1 examined the direct effects at the individual level. Volunteer activity participants showed an increase in life satisfaction compared to non-participants. Study 2 examined the spillover effects on the community. An intervention region was set in which volunteer activities were stepped up. Compared to a control region, there was a decrease in tendency to be depressed among older people in the region as a whole. These studies suggest that volunteer activities to prevent functional disability can improve the mental health of both the volunteers and older people living in the community.
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