2020 Volume 9 Issue 4 Pages 195-200
The physical functions, body composition, and cognitive/mental functions of 245 (50 males and 195 females) community-dwelling elderly people participating in a physical fitness measurement program were examined, focusing on social withdrawal. Among males, the TUG score and walking speed were significantly higher in the non-social than in social withdrawal group (p<0.05). As for body composition, the non-social withdrawal groupʼs values, representing their muscle mass, body water, protein, and bone mineral contents, and basal metabolism, were more favorable than those of the social withdrawal group (p<0.05). Conversely, the number of those with depressive tendencies was significantly larger in the social withdrawal than non-social withdrawal group. On comparing physical functions among females, the non-social withdrawal groupʼs handgripstrength level, TUG score, and walking speed were higher than those of the social withdrawal group (p<0.05). However, unlike in the case of males, neither the body composition nor psychophysiological functions significantly varied between the 2 groups, revealing sex differences in the impact of social withdrawal.
