The Adverse Relationship of Locomotive Syndrome on Access to Social Capital, Life Satisfaction, and Self-Rated Health among Retired Household Elderlies

-Survey on Dietary Environment in Relation to Difficulty in Shopping and Current Health Conditions of Household Elderly-

Abstract

We examined the adverse relationship between locomotive syndrome and access to social capital, life satisfaction, and self-rated health.

A questionnaire survey was conducted on 15,200 housebound elderly subjects in 46 prefectures.

Valid responses were obtained from 8,301 subjects. Among them, approximately 11％ of both males and females used a national nursing care insurance service, and 15.3％ of males and 26.8％ of females were undergoing treatment for locomotive syndrome. The subjects with locomotive syndrome showed poor evaluation on all items. Statistically significant reductions in social engagement, loss of social engagement, life satisfaction, and self-rated health were observed. Locomotive syndrome in the elderly in Japan is directly associated with reduced social engagement, which is also significantly associated with diminished life satisfaction and self-rated health.

Taking preventive measures against locomotive syndrome independently of measures to improve access to social capital may be adequate, but should be done as soon as possible, regardless of socioeconomic status, because a delay in preventing locomotive syndrome can exacerbate health disparities.