Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi(JAPANESE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH)
Online ISSN : 2187-8986
Print ISSN : 0546-1766
ISSN-L : 0546-1766
Original article
THE FREQUENCY OF GOING OUTDOORS, AND PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS
Koji FUJITAYoshinori FUJIWARAShu KUMAGAIShuichiro WATANABEYoko YOSHIDAYutaka MOTOHASHIShoji SHINKAI
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2004 Volume 51 Issue 3 Pages 168-180

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Abstract
Purposes This corss-sectional study examined the relationship between the frequency of going outdoors and physical, psychological, and social functioning among community-dwelling older people.
Methods Out of all residents aged 65 and over residing in Yoita town, Niigata prefecture (n=1,673), 1,544 living at home participated in an interview survey held in November 2000. Physical, psychological, and social functioning were compared among four groups defined by the frequency of going outdoors: (1) at least once a day, (2) about once per 2-3 days, (3) about once a week, and (4) seldom. To examine the independent association between the frequency of going outdoors and potential factors, we used multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results Overall distribution of the frequency of going outdoors among the subjects was 76.3% for at least once a day, 13.1% for about once per 2 or 3 days, 3.7% for about once a week, and 6.9% for seldom. The frequency of going outdoors did not differ between genders, but showed significant decrease with advancing age in both sexes. Elderly going outdoors more often were less functionally impaired, scored less for depression and were more socially active than their counterparts going outdoors less often. Multiple logistic regression analysis with the forced entry method identified walking difficulty and fear of falls as the most powerful independent factors associated with going outdoors less than or equal to once a week, while low social activity and a more depressed score were important factors associated with going outdoors about once per 2-3 days.
Conclusions The frequency of going outdoors may be regarded as a generic health indicator among community-dwelling elderly people.
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© 2004 Japanese Society of Public Health
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