Active Social Participation and Mortality Risk Among Older People in Japan

Abstract

A large literature suggests that active social participation contributes to the well-being of older people. Japan provides a compelling context to test this hypothesis due to its rapidly growing elderly population and the phenomenal health of the population. Using the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging, this study examines how social participation, measured by group membership, is related to the risk of overall mortality among Japanese elders aged 65 and older. Results from Cox proportional hazards models show that group affiliation confers advantages against mortality risk, even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, physical health measures, and family relationship variables. In particular, activities geared more toward self-development, such as postretirement employment and lifelong learning, are strongly associated with lower levels of mortality. Findings suggest that continued social participation at advanced ages produces positive health consequences, highlighting the importance of active aging in achieving successful aging in the Japanese context.

Japanese older adults’ loneliness, family relationships and mortality: Does one's living arrangement make a difference?

“…who lived with only a spouse or lived alone) reported very little exchange of support with adult children. 28 The present study had limitations that require attention for the benefit of future studies. 25 The present results of discrete-time event history analyses show that the association between measures of intergenerational family relationships and older adults' mortality depends in part on their living arrangements.…”

Community activities predict disability and mortality in community‐dwelling older adults

“…Social participation has been consistently associated with a lower risk of all‐cause mortality among older adults . It is defined as a “person’s involvement in activities providing interactions with others in society or the community.” Further, social participation is often seen as integral to successful aging, because of the role that it plays in promoting older adults’ physical and psychological well‐being . In most past studies, social participation was assessed through self‐reported engagement in social activities.…”

“…3 Further, social participation is often seen as integral to successful aging, because of the role that it plays in promoting older adults' physical and psychological well-being. 2 In most past studies, social participation was assessed through self-reported engagement in social activities. However, Eriksson showed that there is "an increased risk of ageism by increasing age as the dispersion in social participation increases with age in several aspects."…”

Trajectories of social participation in old age: a systematic literature review

“…In this context, engagement or social participation has become an important object of study. Defined as the involvement of the elderly in social activities practiced in the community, social participation is associated with a lower risk of morbidities 7,8 , disability [9][10][11][12] , cognitive decline 8,12,13 and death 14,15 , and as a determinant of good quality of life and well-being in old age 16,17 .…”