2002 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Structural analysis of the factors which determine the social participation and the quality of life among the elderly
| Project/Area Number |
13670338
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Hygiene
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| Research Institution | Kumamoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
MIYAKITA Takashi School of Medicine, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (50112404)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2001 – 2002
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| Keywords | the elderly / communication disorder / handicap / social participation / quality of life / social support network / life model |
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| Research Abstract |
To clarify the factors which enable the elderly to lead a worthwhile and active life, a self-administered questionnaire survey and a measurement of physical strength from the viewpoint of daily life were conducted. Based on our hypothesis, results of the survey and the measurement were analyzed using three kinds of structural equation modeling (SEM). Model 1 demonstrated that the amenity of the community, the social support network and the social participation were important factors which enable the elderly to lead a worthwhile and active life. The goodness of fit index was 0.919. Model 2 showed that the social support network and the physical strength from the viewpoint of daily life were extremely important as a factor which would make the elderly to participate in various social activities (GFI = 0.914). Model 3 illustrated that as a factor for preserving the physical strength from the viewpoint of daily life, such factors as the frequency of going out, the hobbies and meal and nutrition were important. In summary, the maintenance of the physical strength from the viewpoint of daily life is dispensable for realizing the active social participation and those participation make it possible to lead a worthwhile and active life for the elderly. Furthermore the effectiveness of the intervention programs were evaluated. Improvement of the awareness for the importance of daily exercises as a predisposing factor were recognized, but significant changes in behavior and the physical strength from the viewpoint of daily life were not observed. It was considered that modification of both the intervention programs and the evaluation models were necessary.
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