Factors Affecting the Health-Related Quality of Life of Community-Dwelling Elderly in Japan: A Focus on Spirituality

This study aimed to explain factors affecting health-related quality of life among community-dwelling elderly individuals living in Japan. We conducted a questionnaire survey of 898 individuals at senior citizens clubs in a rural area near the Tokyo metropolitan area in 2015, and analyzed the responses of 715 who provided valid responses. The survey questions included basic attributes (e.g., age, economic affluence), state of health (e.g., whether s/he has heart disease or not), the Spirituality Rating Scale Related to Health in the Elderly (SP Health Scale, composed of, e.g., meaning and purpose of living, self-transcendence), the Abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale, and the MOS 8-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-8). Multiple regression analyses were performed using the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of the SF-8 as dependent variables and all others as independent variables. Factors associated with improved PCS were economic affluence and SP Health Scale (meaning and purpose of living), while the factors associated with reduced PCS were age and state of health (heart disease, gastrointestinal disease, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, knee pain, and eligible for long-term care). Meanwhile, factors associated with improved MCS were economic affluence, while those that were associated with reduced MCS were state of health (cancer and headache) and SP Health Scale (self-transcendence). These results suggest the need to understand spirituality in addition to the subjective economic situation, age, and medical condition of elderly individuals in order to improve their physical and mental health.

Providing Physical and Mental Health Support Using Medical Examination Data and Perceived Health

Without ascertaining workers’ perceived health, it is difficult to achieve behavioral modification even if health guidance is conducted. To investigate physical and mental health support emphasizing “positive health,” we used the Total Health Index (THI) survey with the purpose of elucidating the association between medical examination data and perceived health. After obtaining medical examination data from 90 men, we analyzed their responses to the THI survey. The results suggested that age and abnormal medical examination data are associated with physical and mental complaints. In the analysis by age group, we found that men in their 20s had more complaints of irregularity of daily life on the THI scale. The group who responded that they were not getting enough sleep had higher mean values of total cholesterol and fasting blood sugar. The group who responded that their meals were irregular had higher mean values of Body Mass Index, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. As confirmed by the THI, continuously supporting lifestyle improvement is important. The THI of the “health guidance” group indicated fewer physical health complaints and more aggression/extroversion than the “normal” group. In those for whom health guidance was applicable, participants who were “obese” and “hypertensive” had more aggression/extroversion and lesser extent of nervousness. Based on these findings, it was suggested that meaningful, personalized health support can be developed.