Three-year effects of neighborhood social network intervention on mental and physical health of older adults

Abstract

Objectives

Although neighborhood is considered to be a crucial source of social network to promote health among older adults, current findings are mostly derived from observational study designs. This study examined whether participations in event-based community programs could increase neighborhood social network and whether such increase could lead to desirable changes in mental and physical health among older adults.

Method

This study employed quasi-experimental design. A baseline questionnaire survey was sent to residents of Tsurukabuto community aged 60 years or more (n = 1769); 1,068 responded. Community events were implemented approximately once a month for three years. Then, a three-year follow-up survey questionnaire was sent to the respondents of the baseline survey. The total number of respondents in the latter survey was 662; of the total, 173 participated in the intervention. Strong and weak ties with neighbors, mental well-being (Ikigai-9), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) were measured in the surveys.

Results

The path analysis revealed that intervention participation was significantly associated with changes in strong ties (standardized path coefficient = 0.12) and changes in strong ties were associated with those in Ikigai-9 scores (standardized path coefficient = 0.15). The total and indirect effects of intervention participation on Ikigai-9 scores were significant. Significant intervention effects were not observed for HRQOL and IADL scores.

Conclusion

This study found that participation in our event-based intervention could indirectly and positively influence older adults’ mental well-being through their strong ties with their neighbors.

Keywords:

• Social support
• quality of life/wellbeing
• psychosocial interventions
• physical health status

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, K. Harada, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research A (24240093), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research B (15KT0006), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (18H05298), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; a Grant from a Community Development Partnership between Kobe University and Nada ward, Kobe City; and Graduate School of Human Development and Environment Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists, Kobe University.