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Social cohesion and health in old age: a study in southern Taiwan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2015

Wenling Chen ,
Kiyohito Okumiya ,
Taizo Wada ,
Ryota Sakamoto ,
Hissei Imai ,
Yasuko Ishimoto ,
Yumi Kimura ,
Eriko Fukutomi ,
Michiko Fujisawa  and
Hsin-I Shih
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Wenling Chen*
Affiliation:
Department of Field Medicine, School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Kiyohito Okumiya
Affiliation:
Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Taizo Wada
Affiliation:
Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Ryota Sakamoto
Affiliation:
Hakubi Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Hissei Imai
Affiliation:
Department of Field Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Yasuko Ishimoto
Affiliation:
Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Yumi Kimura
Affiliation:
Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Eriko Fukutomi
Affiliation:
Department of Field Medicine, School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Michiko Fujisawa
Affiliation:
Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Hsin-I Shih
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Chia-Ming Chang
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Kozo Matsubayashi
Affiliation:
Department of Field Medicine, School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Wenling Chen, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, 46 Shimoadachi-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, 606–8501 Kyoto, Japan. Phone: +81-75-753-7368; Fax: +81-75-753-7168. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

Previous studies have found that social cohesion and trust (SCT) were associated with psychological well-being and physical health. In this study, we investigated the associations between SCT and mental and physical health among community-dwelling elderly in a town in southern Taiwan.

Methods:

The study population consisted of 149 community-dwelling elderly aged 65 years and older (68 men, 81 women; mean age, 75.4 ± 6.1 years) residing in the town of Dashe in southern Taiwan. Activities of daily living (ADL), SCT, depression, subjective quality of life (QOL), current medical status, past medical history, and health behaviors were assessed in face-to-face interviews. Objective neurobehavioral functions were assessed using the timed up & go (TUG) test, functional reach test, and handgrip test.

Results:

Scores for ADL and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were significantly correlated with SCT, and SCT was significantly correlated with all subjective QOL items. In addition, a strong correlation was observed between SCT and relationship with friends. Values for SCT (median ≥ 20) were significantly associated with both subjective sense of health (median ≥ 68) and subjective happiness (median ≥ 73) after adjusting for age, sex, and ADL.

Conclusion:

SCT is an important variable that influences self-rated health and happiness, independently of ADL, age, and sex. When assessing geriatric psychological function, SCT should be examined more carefully, given its association with subjective sense of health and happiness, depression, and physical function.

Keywords

social cohesion and trustADLGDSQOLelderlyhealthhappinessTaiwan
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 27 , Issue 11 , November 2015 , pp. 1903 - 1911
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2015 

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