Three-year trajectories of social networks, face-to-face interactions, and non-face-to-face interactions among community-dwelling older adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic: Otassha study.
Maturitas
; 183: 107943, 2024 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38367365
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the trajectories of social networks and interactions among older Japanese individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDYDESIGN:
We used data from a cohort of community-dwelling older individuals from the Otassha study's 2019-2022 survey. Participants comprised 606 older individuals who participated in the 2019 survey and were followed up at least once. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Social networks were assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6), whereas social interactions were assessed by the frequency of face-to-face or non-face-to-face contact with non-resident family members and friends. Trajectories of the LSNS-6 and face-to-face and non-face-to-face interactions were identified using group-based semiparametric mixture modeling. The trajectories of change in the LSNS-6 from 2019 were also identified. The factors associated with the changes in trajectory patterns were examined using logistic regression analysis.RESULTS:
Three LSNS-6 trajectories were identified, with slightly decreasing patterns over time. Specifically, face-to-face interactions tended to decrease over time, whereas non-face-to-face interactions exhibited almost no change. The reduction in LSNS-6 in the decreased pattern failed to recover to its pre-pandemic level. The group of participants with the decreased pattern had a significantly higher proportion of people participating in group activities [odds ratio (95 % confidence interval) 2.27 (1.12-4.59)] and performing calisthenics twice a week than the group with the maintained pattern [2.08 (1.18-3.68)].CONCLUSIONS:
During the three years of the pandemic, no changes were observed in the social networks of community-dwelling older Japanese individuals.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Independent Living
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Maturitas
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Country of publication:
Ireland