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Relationships between interest, current, and future participation in activities: Japanese Interest Checklist for the Elderly
- Authors:
- NAKAMURA-THOMAS Hiromi, KYOUGOKU Makoto, FORSYTH Kirsty
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(2), 2014, pp.103-110.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Introduction: This study examined the relationship between interest, current participation, and desire for future participation in each activity listed in the Japanese Interest Checklist for the Elderly. Method: Data were collected from 375 community-dwelling older Japanese people through individual interviews using the revised Japanese Interest Checklist for the Elderly, which contains 25 activities. Responses in interest, current participation, and desire for future participation were analysed across activity and gender. Findings: Interest, current participation, and desire for future participation in activities correlated significantly and positively for both genders. Three different situations were identified: (1) participants could not currently participate in activities despite showing interest; (2) they were not currently engaged in activities but wished to participate them in the future; and (3) they preferred not to participate in the specific activities in the future, despite currently showing interest. Conclusion: There is a need for occupational therapists, therefore, to understand these findings in considering appropriate therapeutic options. Moreover, occupational therapists need to determine whether the person prefers not to participate in some activities, despite showing interest and/or participation in interests more generally. (Publisher abstract)
Music for life: a Japanese experience of spirituality, ageing and musical growth
- Author:
- MATSUNOBU Koji
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(6), 2018, pp.1100-1120.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper examines the role of musical engagement in later-life spiritual development and ageing. The nexus of music, spirituality and ageing has been relatively unexplored. Change of styles, means of expression and ways of engagement are among the transformation that older musicians often encounter. Based on an ethnographic study of Japanese music practitioners, the paper introduces a community music practice in which spiritual cultivation is a collective goal of musical pursuit. A case introduced in this paper suggests that music helps to develop a sense of purpose and enhance the meaning of life by instilling the feeling that people are still able to develop musically and spiritually. Some of the transformation identified in the study included changes of repertoire, the purpose of practice and the meaning of progress, all of which was characterised in the dictum of less-is-more. The paper highlights the process in which spiritual development and musical growth are linked and support positive ageing. (Edited publisher abstract)
Art and cultural activity engagement and depressive symptom onset among older adults: a longitudinal study from the Japanese Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES)."
- Authors:
- NOGUCHI Taiji, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37(3), 2022,
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objectives: Art and cultural activities can benefit mental health. However, there is insufficient evidence on active engagement in art and cultural activities for preventing depressive symptoms among older adults. Therefore, we examined the association of active engagement in art and cultural activities with depressive symptom onset among older adults using 3-year longitudinal data. Methods: This longitudinal study recruited non-institutionalised older adults independent in daily living from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) established in 2010, and those without depressive symptoms were followed for three years. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Active engagement in nine art and cultural activities, including Japanese traditional cultural activities, were evaluated (musical performance, singing, dancing, handicrafts, painting, photography, poetry composition, calligraphy, and tea ceremony/flower arrangement). Results: Ultimately, 37,627 older adults without depressive symptoms at baseline were analysed. The participants' mean age (standard deviation) was 72.6 (5.5) years, and 51.5% were female. During the follow-up period, depressive symptoms occurred in 3844 participants (10.2%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that active engagement in art and cultural activities was inversely associated with depressive symptom onset (odds ratio = 0.80, 95% confidence interval = 0.73–0.87, p < 0.001). This association was confirmed regardless of age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Among the activities, especially dancing and photography were protective against depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Active engagement in art and cultural activities may contribute to preventing depressive symptoms among older adults. Promoting art and cultural engagement could be important to protect their mental health. (Edited publisher abstract)
Volunteering among Japanese older adults: how are hours of paid work and unpaid work for family associated with volunteer participation?
- Authors:
- KOBAYASHI Erika, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 39(11), 2019, pp.2420-2442.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
As the population ages, older adults are increasingly expected to play multiple productive roles. This study examined how hours of paid or unpaid work were associated with volunteering among older Japanese. Data came from the 2012 National Survey of the Japanese Elderly, a nationwide survey of Japanese aged 60 and older (N = 1,324). The researchers performed multinominal logistic regression analyses to predict volunteering (regular or occasional versus non-volunteer) based on hours of paid work and unpaid work for family consisting of sick/disabled care, grandchild care and household chores. Those who worked moderate hours were most likely to be a regular volunteer while working 150 hours or more per month had a lower probability of volunteering, regardless of whether the work was paid or unpaid. Thus, full-time level work competed with volunteering for both paid and unpaid work for family, but it was more so for paid work. By types of activities, doing household chores and substantial grandchild care were positively associated with volunteering, and the latter complementary relationship was explained by a larger community network among grandparents. The findings indicate that delaying retirement from full-time paid work may reduce the supply of regular volunteers in the community. Thus, policies to increase part-time work for older adults as well as the types of volunteer work in which paid workers can participate are necessary. (Edited publisher abstract)
Aging in urban Japan – intergenerational reading in Tokyo
- Author:
- BACHMANN Inger Maleen
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 18(1), 2014, pp.24-29.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to introduce a volunteer network from the Tokyo Metropolitan area that addresses the urge for senior citizens to stay mentally active and provide a possibility for them to participate in intergenerational contact as to feel included and useful to society. Design/methodology/approach: The research derives from literature review, local government documents and online presentation as well as an interview that has been conducted by the Tokyo senior information site. Findings: The REPRINTS (Research of Productivity by Intergenerational Sympathy) network in Tokyo is but one answer that combines a mentally challenging activity with intergenerational contact. The network presents an easy to reach and easy to implement diversion for schools to enable children to experience the traditional form of storytelling and help senior citizens to feel challenged and needed. Practical implications: Learning from the experience of the REPRINTS network could help to set up similar activities in other communities that deal with the same problems and are seeking ways to include senior citizens, help them stay active and useful for the community and encourage intergenerational contact. Originality/value: Japan is one of the forerunners when it comes to aging population. Yet, most research still focusses on the challenges, care and especially problems that occur in dying rural areas. This paper instead tries to take a more positive look to the future and concentrates on urban life and its context. (Publisher abstract)
Toward an age-friendly city: the constraints preventing the elderly's participation in community programs in Akita city
- Author:
- KADOYA Yoshihiko
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 17(3), 2013, pp.101-108.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose – The inclusion of the elderly in community life is a major factor in achieving an age-friendly city. However, there has been little research investigating the constraints preventing the elderly's interaction with society. With that in mind, this paper is pioneering the investigation of such constraints. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used the results from the “Questionnaire towards an Age-Friendly City” by Japan's Akita City, a member of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities. Findings – This paper reveals two constraining factors. First, living solo discourages elderly to interact with society. Second, the elderly who cannot drive a car tend to be reluctant to participate in social activities. Practical implications – To be age-friendly that encourages the elderly to participate in community life, municipalities may apply the following “implementations for practice”: implementing regular visits to the elderly who live alone; giving young people some incentives (e.g. tax reductions) to live with their aged parents/relatives; increasing the number of community buses in order to encourage the elderly to go out; and increasing community taxis by deregulating the industry. Originality/value – This paper contributes significantly to the study of the elderly's inclusion in community life, which is a major component of an age-friendly city. Although little research has analyzed the constraints preventing the elderly's social interaction due to data limitations, this pioneering paper identifies at least some of the constraints. This research can help to improve the health and wellbeing of elderly individuals in our society and it can help to create more age-friendly cities. (Publisher abstract)