Abstract
Aims : This research identifies and relates from the community activities of middle-aged and elderly workers living in one town to their work, life goals, and desire for permanent residence in the community. Methods : An anonymously self-completed questionnaire was used to collect data from 1,801 subjects aged between 40 and 64 years living in the hilly-mountainous region of Japan. The questionnaire was designed to gather information concerning residents' demographics, working conditions, community activities, desire for permanent residence, and general life goals. The instrument was distributed by health workers, After completion, they were returned by the regular mail. Those who participated and those who did not were compared. Relationships between several variables were evaluated by chi square tests. Results : Seventy percent of the subjects who participated in community activities desired to live in the community permanently. Regardless of daily commuting, community activities are related to one's role within the community, one's occupation, and one's wish for permanent residence within the commuting. Male community members tended to participate more in community activities than females. However, in their 50's the ratio of male to female reversed by those who participated in community activities and desired a permanent residence in the community. Notably, "work" is the most important of the appropriate life goals for both genders. Based on a diversity of appropriate life goals, results suggest that, in order to promote health of middle-aged and elderly residents, it is important to link both spheres of "work" and "community". Also, linking strategy to form community activities by residents' organizations such as town-block association is important.
