Help-seeking preference in obtaining social support for older adults in depopulated areas.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the circumstances of help-seeking preference among older adults in depopulated areas and the relationship between help-seeking preference and social support. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that included a sample of 271 men and women aged 65-79 years living in Japan. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess help-seeking preference, social cohesion (community trust, norms of reciprocity and community attachment), socialising (interaction with neighbors and social network) and social support. Multiple regression analysis was performed with items that were found to be significantly associated with social support in the univariate analysis. Then, we examined the significance of the change in the coefficient of determination between a model that included help-seeking preference as an independent variable and a model that did not. RESULTS: Social support was related to help-seeking preference, living arrangements, economic status, norms of reciprocity and social networks. There was a significant difference in the coefficient of determination between the models with and without help-seeking preference. CONCLUSIONS: For older adults in depopulated areas to obtain social support, it is important to build trusting relationships with others and shows a willingness to seek and accept help.

[Development and evaluation of reliability and validity of Japanese version of Positive Solitude Scale].

Objectives　Solitude is a state of being without social contact; it occurs when a person chooses not to interact with others, even when they are in the company of others. It is not necessarily accompanied by negative feelings. In contrast, loneliness, is a psychological state characterized by the feeling of needing the company of others. Most Japanese studies have regarded loneliness as an unpleasant and painful experience. In this study, focusing on solitude, we developed the Japanese version of Positive Solitude Scale (JPSS) developed by Palgi et al. and evaluated its reliability and validity. This scale assesses the "conscious and voluntary decision to be alone as a positive experience."Methods　A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted between May and August 2023, with 700 men and women participants aged 20 years or older living in Ward A, Sapporo. The survey items comprised basic attributes, the JPSS, subjective sense of health, subjective sense of well-being, and depression to verify convergent validity and social network and loneliness to verify discriminant validity. Additionally, principal component and correlation analyses were performed.Results　A total of 245 questionnaires were collected, and 237 valid responses were obtained (valid response rate: 33.9%). The participants' mean age was 58.5±1.2 years and 111 (46.8%) were men; the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the JPSS was 0.92. The principal component analysis revealed that all nine items had principal component loadings above 0.6, with a cumulative contribution of 62.3% to the overall scale. The total scale score was significantly positively correlated with subjective health (ρ=0.210, P=0.001), positive affect (ρ=0.302, P<0.001), and life satisfaction (ρ=0.241, P<0.001). There were no significant correlations among depression, negative affect, social networks, and loneliness.Conclusions　The JPSS is a reliable and valid instrument unaffected by social networks and other social relationships. It is expected to be a promising new scale that can measure perceptions of time as a positive emotion, distinct from loneliness.

Online health information searching and health literacy among middle-aged and older adults: A cross-sectional study.

Given the rapid increase in health information available, health literacy is now more important than ever when searching for health information online. Furthermore, health literacy and online health information searching are reported to be associated with support from others. In this study, we examined the associations of health literacy and social support with online health information searching among individuals in their 50s and 60s. Between March and May 2022, an anonymous self-administered questionnaire was administered among 750 middle-aged and older adults (age 50-69) living in northern Japan. The questionnaire items included personal characteristics, frequency of online health information searching, health literacy domains, and social support. A total of 237 respondents answered all the items (response rate: 31.6%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that communicative health literacy was significantly associated with searching for information about illnesses and health promotion, while critical health literacy was significantly associated with searching for information about medical institutions. Controlling for personal characteristics, health literacy, was associated with online health information searching, suggesting that improving health literacy is important in a digital and information society.

Development of Older Adults' Perceptions on Community-based Connectedness with People Scale: Reliability and validity evaluation.

AIM: We developed a self-assessment scale-Older Adults' Perceptions of Community-based Connectedness with People-to assess older adults' comprehensive perceptions of their connectedness with others in the community. A specific aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of this scale. METHODS: Participants consisted of 1000 men and women aged 65 years or older, living in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Factorial validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, while concurrent validity was assessed using correlation analysis. Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's α coefficient using the internal consistency method, and the stability coefficient was confirmed using the test-retest method. RESULTS: Responses were received from 380 participants, and 358 participants who responded to all items were included in the analysis. The developed scale comprised 22 items with three factors: "Perception of Inclusion" (α = .947), "Perception of Reciprocity through Reception" (α = .937), and "Perception of Reciprocity through Provision" (α = .910). Correlation analyses indicated that concurrent scales were positively correlated with Ikigai and negatively correlated with loneliness on the total scale. The model fit was comparative fit index = 0.933, goodness-of-fit index = 0.854, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.818, and root mean square of approximation = 0.081. The stability coefficient of the total scale scores was 0.875 (95% CI: [0.830, 0.908]). CONCLUSIONS: The developed scale had adequate reliability and validity. The perceptions of connectedness measured using this scale can be used by public health and nursing care professionals to prevent loneliness and isolation among older adults living in the community.

Older people's connectedness with people in the community in contemporary contexts: A concept analysis.

AIM: This study aimed to clarify the concept of older people's connectedness with people in the community within the literature. METHODS: This study was based on Walker and Avant's concept analysis method. We used PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases and included peer-reviewed articles that were published in English between January 2010 and April 2023. After assessing eligibility and applying exclusion criteria, 25 articles were analyzed. RESULTS: Attributes included sense of belonging to the community achieved through interactions and feeling of togetherness through interrelationships, which consequently led to the maintenance of healthy physical and mental states and independent living, the acquisition of the ability to overcome difficulties, and the creation of a sense of meaning in life through coexistence. CONCLUSION: We identified the concept of older people's connectedness with people in the community in a contemporary context. Connectedness is a useful concept to consider in nursing care because it seems to evolve into comprehensive health, including the physical and psychosocial health of older adults.

Testing a frailty prevention program for older men during COVID-19: A 2-year mixed-methods pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a syndrome related to declining functioning attributed to aging. As a reversible, often improved condition, preventive measures for frailty can be effective. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate a frailty prevention program for older men comprising face-to-face meetings and an original social mobile application. We also examined the effect of COVID-19-associated social isolation on the implementation of this program. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study featuring a single group before and after comparison of 11 man participants, ≥65 years, living in Japanese cities with a spouse or relatives. Program outcome measures included frailty, loneliness, grip strength, step count and mental health status. Process evaluation considered the experience of participants through a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: The intervention period included an interval of self-isolation owing to the spread of COVID-19. Among the outcomes, grip strength decreased after intervention. No significant negative changes were observed in other items. Themes emerging from participant experiences with the program included 'Cooperation with researchers and contributing to research', 'Greater awareness of health', 'Interest in and experience of "newness"', 'Hesitation over active engagement', 'Casual ties with members' and 'Relationships that do not breach personal boundaries'. CONCLUSIONS: Although the COVID-19 pandemic overlapped with the intervention, participants maintained their mental health. The program was a novel, stimulating experience for older men and demonstrated the usefulness of information and communication technology in supporting their social activities. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: As a community health nursing initiative for older people, we propose activities that combine group and online support. Frailty prevention programs for older men must contain content that stimulates their interests, such as 'health' and 'newness'.

Effects of a 'social activity program that encourages interaction' on rural older people's psychosocial health: Mixed-methods research.

BACKGROUND: We developed a program that encourages interaction among older people living at home by combining face-to-face and online activities and examined its effects on older adults' psychosocial health. METHODS: In this mixed-methods study, we recruited 11 women and 6 men (Mage = 79.5 ± 6.4 years), who lived in a rural community and participated in a senior citizen club. The intervention was conducted for 13 months, comprising monthly face-to-face group and social media activities. For the program process evaluation, we collected focus-group interview data on participants' perceptions of their personal lives, club membership, and community post-intervention. For the outcome evaluation, we collected six outcome measures pre- and post-intervention: loneliness, subjective health, subjective well-being, self-esteem, social support and social activity satisfaction. Finally, through the integration of the process-outcome evaluation, we inferred what effects the program had on participants' psychosocial health. RESULTS: In the process evaluation, we identified four themes: 'Stimulation brought about by relationships with peers,' 'Realization as to where they feel they belong,' 'Rethinking of oneself in the community,' and 'Awareness of attachment to and coexistence with the community.' In the outcome evaluation, the outcome measures were maintained without significant decline post-intervention. CONCLUSION: Through the integration of the process-outcome evaluation, we deduced three effects of the program on psychosocial health: (1) fulfilment of subjective health, (2) maintenance and assurance of moderate distance connectedness and (3) orientation toward aging in place. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study offers a promising opportunity for further development and research into community-based preventive nursing care intervention strategies to maintain the psychosocial health of homebound older people in communities with social activity groups.

Verification of the Effectiveness of a Communication Application in Improving Social Connectedness and Physical Health among Unacquainted Older Men: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study.

This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of an application (app) in establishing social connectedness among unacquainted older men, as well as improving their physical health. The nine participants were men aged 65 and older in the subarctic zone of Hokkaido, Japan. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted as the study design. A questionnaire survey was completed before and after the intervention, and a semi-structured interview was conducted after the intervention. An app-installed smartphone was loaned to the participants, which allowed them to share pictures, voice recordings, and their step count. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and qualitative data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis to generate categories. The average age of the participants was 77.7 years. The relationship between participants who were interacting for the first time through the app advanced as their understanding of each other's personalities deepened. The average step count during the third and fourth months was significantly higher than in the first two months. By using the app, older men were able to build relationships with one another. In addition, visualizing the number of steps on the app was effective in improving the number of steps.

Value of social activities and prerequisites for continued participation of rural older adults: A qualitative study.

AIMS: To explore the value of social activities and the prerequisites for continuous participation among rural older adults based on their experiences. DESIGN: Qualitative, descriptive design. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 older adults from voluntary community salons in a rural area in Japan. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist were used. RESULTS: Four values of social activities were identified: "Mutual benefit connectedness," "Preventing and coping with aging," "Making life brilliant 'now'," and "Building a safety net." Three prerequisites for activities were identified: "Do not overreach," "Do not infringe on personal territory," and "Do not go against community norms." Social activities provide rural older adults with reciprocity ties, coping with aging, enhanced daily lives, and a social safety net. Continued participation in rural social activities requires adherence to cultural norms and moderation of relationship distances. Community and public health nurses are expected to promote social activities that incorporate these values and adhere to these prerequisites.

Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others.

The spread of COVID-19 is considered to have strengthened people's awareness of others. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced connection with others among older adults and increased loneliness. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting loneliness among older adults in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on the connection with others. The target group included 932 rural Japanese adults, aged 65-74 years. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted. Valid responses were obtained from 405 participants (valid response rate: 43.5%). A multiple regression analysis was performed using the forced entry method with loneliness as the dependent variable. The independent variables were those showing significant associations with loneliness based on the univariate analysis. Sex (ß = -0.139), economic situation (ß = -0.103), neighborhood ties (ß = -0.260), independent view of self (ß = -0.213), interdependent view of self (ß = 0.171), and communication through phone (ß = -0.128) were significantly associated with loneliness. Connection with others and subjective views of the relationship between self and others were associated with loneliness in situations where one was more aware of the behavior of oneself and others in an infectious disease pandemic.

Novice public health nurses' home-visit skills in Japan: A one-year longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the status of novice public health nurses' home-visit skills during their first year of practice. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A one-year longitudinal observational study was conducted with 80 novice public health nurses. The participants were recruited from the four Japanese prefectures and their affiliated municipalities selected by using stratified sampling. MEASUREMENTS: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed three times between April 2016 and March 2017, asking about home-visit experiences, understandings of the significance of home-visit, and the levels of home-visit skills. Data were analyzed with paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: All of twenty skills' self-ratings significantly increased between the fourth and eighth months; five skills continually increased between the eighth and twelfth months. Both of Physical Assessment and Relationship Development Skills improved to the "Can do, almost by myself" level at the twelfth month; other skills remained at the "Can do, with a little advice" level. CONCLUSION: Although novice public health nurses improved to conducted home-visits independently, they didn't perceive themselves as being able to do so in their first year. Therefore, through preparing guideline, organizations should provide intentional support to assist their skill acquisition during their first, and even in their second year.

Older rural people's perception of connectedness through a communication application: A qualitative descriptive study.

Connectedness among older people is essential for healthy communities, especially among rural populations where limited social interaction and associated health effects may be cause for concern. In this qualitative descriptive study, we explored older rural people's perception of connectedness through a communication application. The study assessed 10 participants (mean age = 76.2 years) living in rural Japan who regularly participated in a senior citizens' club. From July 2019 to January 2020, the participants used a social media application developed by our research team to meet the needs of older people. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Six themes representing older rural people's perception of connectedness were identified: (1) thoughtful consideration for members strengthened even without them meeting face-to-face, (2) encouragement received from familiar members, (3) joy in sharing daily routine with neighbors, (4) courage to advance through face-to-face interaction, (5) willingness to continue club membership, and (6) fear of disrupting club's harmony. Participants who used the application felt compensated for the lack of social interaction opportunities in rural settings and strengthened their existing relationships.

Predictors and Importance of Social Aspects in Ikigai among Older Women.

Ikigai is a unique Japanese concept that encompasses not only joy and happiness, but also the purpose and meaning of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that contribute to Ikigai, an important concept in the health of older women, and to clarify the relationship between Ikigai and the enhancement of the social aspects of their health. The participants in this longitudinal study, conducted between October 2017 and February 2020, were physically healthy older women aged 65 years and above (N = 132). Physical function and social activity were used as predictors of Ikigai. In addition, willingness for new interactions was used to examine the social aspects of health. A causal model was created from these factors, and path analysis was performed. The results demonstrated that participating in numerous interpersonal activities was predictive of increased Ikigai, but physical function was not. In addition, Ikigai was found to affect the willingness for new interactions. Further, Ikigai could be related to the willingness for new interactions. To enhance the social aspects of older women's health, it is necessary to focus on Ikigai.

Effectiveness of disaster preparedness education in helping older people prevent isolation.

OBJECTIVE: This study intends to clarify the effect of regional disaster preparedness education on efforts to prevent the isolation of older people in the event of a disaster. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: This quasi-experimental study involved participants aged 65 and above. The intervention group (n = 35) and the comparison group (n = 61) were compared in the first survey and another one month later. MEASUREMENTS: The survey items assessed aspects such as awareness of and actions related to isolation preparedness, and awareness of support needed by others in the event of a disaster. The results were compared between the two groups. INTERVENTION: The educational program was based on the transtheoretical model of health behavior change and focused on preventing isolation in the event of a disaster, by connecting vulnerable people with their neighbors. Puppet shows and group work were used as part of the program. RESULTS: A month after the program implementation, the intervention group had significantly higher awareness of and actions related to isolation preparedness than the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Disaster preparedness education invokes a responsibility toward the prevention of isolation in the disaster and perceives it as a community issue and encourages individuals to support others.

Perception of COVID-19 Restrictions on Daily Life among Japanese Older Adults: A Qualitative Focus Group Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed older adults to health and social risks. This study examined the perceptions of community-dwelling older adults regarding how COVID-19 restricted their daily lives. Six focus-group interviews were conducted with 24 participants (mean age, 78.2 ± 5.5 years) living in urban and rural areas in Japan. Then, a qualitative inductive content analysis was performed. Six themes were generated: "fear of infection and public, watchful eyes," "consistency in daily personal life," "pain from reducing my social life," "readiness to endure a restricted life," "awareness of positive changes in myself," and "concern for a languishing society." There was no change that would make their lives untenable, and they continued their daily personal lives at a minimum level. However, their social lives were reduced, which over the long term can lead to a lost sense of purpose in life. This was reported as an adverse factor in the development of other diseases and functional decline in previous studies. While there is no doubt that infection prevention is important, supporting older adults in engaging in activities that provide a sense of purpose in life could contribute to their present and future overall health including mental health.

The values and meanings of social activities for older urban men after retirement.

Previous studies have indicated that older men often experience disconnection from the community after retirement. Social activities have been shown to be effective in preventing social isolation among older urban men. Nevertheless, it has been reported that they often do not participate in community social activities and tend to be reluctant to do so. We explored the values and meanings of social activities for retired older men living in an urban area of Japan to understand support using social activities that are more suitable for them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 older men (aged 68-80 years; M = 74.6 ± 3.79 years) about their interactions with family and non-family members, and their participation in various community social activities. The grounded theory approach was used for the analysis. As a result, the following five categories were derived as the values that participants place on the social activities that they engage in: "health as a resource and reward for social activities," "feeling I am still useful," "feeling that something is my responsibility," "feeling of time well spent," and "finding interest through interactions." In addition, the following three categories were extracted as meanings of social activities: "fulfilling social life," "maintaining stable family relationships," and "maintaining safety and peace in the community." When considering the social activities that older urban retired men are interested in and likely to participate in, these five values can be considered indicators. In contrast, to maintain stable family relationships and safety and peace in the community, participants sometimes used strategies to stop or abandon social activities. Therefore, in situations where a peaceful life within a family or neighborhood is threatened, it may be useful to help set aside sufficient time and allow for psychological leeway in advance to incorporate social activities into their lives.

Development of a social activities scale for community-dwelling older people requiring support.

Aim: This study aims to develop the Social Activities Scale for Community-Dwelling Older People Requiring Support (SASOS). Design: This study is a cross-sectional investigation. Methods: The participants were healthy older people (HOP; N = 140) and those requiring support (OPRS; N = 250). An anonymous questionnaire included items on SASOS, subjective health and ikigai (Japanese well-being concept). Criterion-related validity was examined using the Social Activity Index for Elderly People (SAI-E). Results: Seventy-five HOP and 157 OPRS provided effective responses. The scale (α = 0.805) had three subscales: "interactions with friends and neighbors (F1)," "close relationships with family (F2)" and "interactions with others through activity programs (F3)." SASOS and SAI-E scores were correlated (r = .558, p < .01), indicating criterion-related validity. In known-groups validity analysis, F1 were significantly higher among HOP and F3 were significantly higher among OPRS. Total scores correlated with perceived health (r = .240, p < .01) and ikigai (r = .419, p < .01).

Processes that enable public health professionals to organize preventive care support groups.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the structure of the process that public health professionals (PHPs) use to organize preventive care groups for older adults and the elements that strengthen this process. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: The study was conducted using a quantitative descriptive design. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were distributed by mail to 919 PHPs, including nurses and social workers employed by local governments in a Japanese prefecture, who facilitated recreational groups for older adults for the purposes of preventive care. Measures Items related to the process and the awareness of support were based on previous research. The process structure was examined using exploratory factor analysis, while multiple logistic regression analysis was used to study strengthening elements. RESULTS: The process yielded six factors (encouraging clarity with respect to the group's activity policy; creating connections with other resources; fostering independence; encouraging activity evaluation; creating relationships with group members; understanding the strengths and weaknesses of communities and individuals) with a total of 23 items. Two of three indicators of awareness of support were significantly related to the process. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the importance of strengthening elements might improve support groups for older adults.

Development of a Scale for Assessing the Meaning of Participation in Care Prevention Group Activities Provided by Local Governments in Japan.

The meaning of participation in care prevention group activities may encourage continuous participation, making older adults active and healthy throughout their lives. This study developed a scale to assess the meaning of participation in care prevention group activities. It involved 427 participants in care prevention group activities (CPGAs) in Japan who filled out a self-administered questionnaire between October 2017 and February 2018. The meaning of participation was assessed using 15 items. In total, there were 379 valid responses. A factor analysis yielded two factors: "promotion of self-growth" and "enrichment of daily life". The goodness of fit index (GFI), comparative fit index (CFI), and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were satisfactory (GFI = 0.923; CFI = 0.960; RMSEA = 0.073). Cronbach's α was 0.939 for the entire scale. The scale scores were significantly correlated with scores of the social activity-related daily life satisfaction scale and Ikigai-9. The scale's reliability and validity were confirmed, indicating its usability for promoting care prevention efforts.