Dataset Information

Development of an instrument for community-level health related social capital among Japanese older people: The JAGES Project.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We developed and validated an instrument to measure community-level social capital based on data derived from older community dwellers in Japan.

Methods

We used cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a nationwide survey involving 123,760 functionally independent older people nested within 702 communities (i.e., school districts). We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on survey items to determine the items in a multi-dimensional scale to measure community social capital. Internal consistency was checked with Cronbach's alpha. Convergent construct validity was assessed via correlating the scale with health outcomes.

Results

From 53 candidate variables, 11 community-level variables were extracted: participation in volunteer groups, sports groups, hobby activities, study or cultural groups, and activities for teaching specific skills; trust, norms of reciprocity, and attachment to one's community; received emotional support; provided emotional support; and received instrumental support. Using factor analysis, these variables were determined to belong to three sub-scales: civic participation (eigenvalue = 3.317, ? = 0.797), social cohesion (eigenvalue = 2.633, ? = 0.853), and reciprocity (eigenvalue = 1.424, ? = 0.732). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the goodness of fit of this model. Multilevel Poisson regression analysis revealed that civic participation score was robustly associated with individual subjective health (Self-Rated Health: prevalence ratio [PR] 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.98; Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS]: PR 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.97). Reciprocity score was also associated with individual GDS (PR 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-1.00). Social cohesion score was not consistently associated with individual health indicators.

Conclusions

Our scale for measuring social capital at the community level might be useful for future studies of older community dwellers.

SUBMITTER: Saito M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5394224 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Development of an instrument for community-level health related social capital among Japanese older people: The JAGES Project.

Saito Masashige M Kondo Naoki N Aida Jun J Kawachi Ichiro I Koyama Shihoko S Ojima Toshiyuki T Kondo Katsunori K

Journal of epidemiology 20170204 5

<h4>Background</h4>We developed and validated an instrument to measure community-level social capital based on data derived from older community dwellers in Japan.<h4>Methods</h4>We used cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a nationwide survey involving 123,760 functionally independent older people nested within 702 communities (i.e., school districts). We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on survey items to determine the items in a multi-dime ...[more]

PMID: 28169107

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectiveInequalities exist between the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination (PPSV23) rate in each municipality among Japanese older adults. Exploring individual-level and community-level intervenable factors is necessary to improve the vaccination rates. We examined the associations between community-level and individual-level social capital and the PPSV23 vaccination among older Japanese adults using multilevel Poisson regression analyses.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingWe used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, conducted between 3 October 2016 and 10 January 2017 in 631 districts, 39 municipalities and 18 prefectures.ParticipantsThe target population comprised persons aged 65 years or older who are physically and cognitively independent (that is, not certified as needing long-term care). Further, 180 021 older adults from 39 Japanese municipalities were enrolled.Primary outcome measureThe primary outcome was the PPSV23 vaccination among the Japanese older adults aged 65 years or older who did not have physical or cognitive disabilities.ResultsAfter adjusting for municipality-, community-, individual-levels effects with multiple imputation, 137 075 individuals who participated in one/more of the civic participation (participation of social groups), social cohesion (social tie), or reciprocity (mutual exchange of social support) were significantly associated with more vaccinations than those without the three social capitals among the 137 075 older adults (13.0% (95% CI 11.0% to 14.9%), 5.0% (95% CI 2.4% to 7.6%) or 33.9% (95% CI23.6% to 44.2%) increase, respectively, p>0.001 for all). The rich (≥+1 SD) community-level civic participation was significantly associated with 3.4% increase [95% CI 0.02% to 6.78%, p<0.05] of the PPSV23 vaccination among the older adults compared to those with the poor or standard one.ConclusionsOlder adults with one/more of the three social capitals at the both levels received more PPSV23 vaccinations than those without those social capitals. Therefore, fostering of those social capitals may improve the inequality of the PPSV23 vaccination rate among older adults in each municipality.

Dataset Information

Development of an instrument for community-level health related social capital among Japanese older people: The JAGES Project.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Development of an instrument for community-level health related social capital among Japanese older people: The JAGES Project.

Similar Datasets

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