Association between visual status and social participation in older Japanese: The JAGES cross-sectional study. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoshida, Yuto; Hiratsuka, Yoshimune; Kawachi, Ichiro; Murakami, Akira; Kondo, Katsunori; Aida, Jun
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 253(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Japan -- Social participation -- Visual status -- Visual impairment -- Older adults -- Social capital; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112959
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Rationale: Population aging in Japan has been accompanied by increases in those with visual impairment. No previous study has examined whether visual impairment is associated with reduced social participation in older people in Japan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, questionnaires were mailed to older people living in 39 Japanese communities in 2016. Data from 24, 313 respondents (70.3%, 74.0 ± 6.2 years) included information on visual status, social participation, socioeconomic status, and health. Visual status was measured by self-report (excellent, very good, good, or fair/poor). Results: The prevalence of visual impairment (fair/poor) was 9.3%. After adjusting for individual covariates in multinominal logistic regression analysis with multiple imputations, visual status was significantly associated with reduced participation (once a week or more) in volunteer groups, sports groups, hobby groups, neighborhood associations, study/cultural groups, health promotion groups, and involvement in teaching skills/passing on experiences to others (p for trend <0.01). On the other hand, participation in senior citizen clubs was not associated with visual status (p for trend = 0.07). While excellent/very good vision was associated with increased volunteerism (e.g., involvement in teaching skills/passing on experiences to others: Odds ratios (OR) 1.78/1.21), poor vision disrupted participation in activities that require physical activity (e.g., sports groups: OR 0.64). Conclusion: These results suggest that vision status is an important determinant of social participation among older adults in Japan. Highlights: There is an association between visual status and social participation. People with better vision are more likely to participate in a wide range of social organizations. Participation in senior citizen clubs was not associated with visual status. Excellent/very good vision was associated with increased volunteerism. Poor vision disrupted participation in activities that require physical activity.