Japanese Journal of Social Welfare
Online ISSN : 2424-2608
Print ISSN : 0911-0232
Original Articles
A Typology of Urban Middle-Aged and Older Adults Living Alone According to Problems in Physical and Mental Health, Financial Status, and Social Relationships
Erika KOBAYASHI Yoh MURAYAMAMasami HASEBETomoya TAKAHASHIJun YAMAGUCHISachiko YAMAZAKI
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2023 Volume 64 Issue 1 Pages 61-74

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Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of urban middle-aged and older adults living alone by typology. The participants were 1,524 randomly selected residents (50‒79 years old) living alone in the ward A in Tokyo who responded to a mail survey. A latent class analysis based on the respondents’ problems in physical and mental health status, financial status, and social relationships identified four distinct groups: “accumulated problems” (5%; severe problems in all aspects), “moderate problems” (25%; few physical health problems but the second worst degree of social relationships after the “accumulated problems” group), “health problems” (19%), and “minimal problems” (51%; low percentage of problems in all aspects). Compared with the “minimal problems” group, the other three groups, especially the “accumulated problems” group, were more likely to be male, distrust others in help-seeking, and have fewer sources of information about the local community. In addition, the “moderate problems” group typically included middle-aged adults (age 50‒64 years), those who had never been married, and non-regular employees. The implications of these findings were discussed regarding the need for professional outreach to the “accumulated problems” group and the development of programs that fit the characteristics of the “moderate problems” group.

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© 2023 Japanese Society for the Study of Social Welfare (JSSSW)
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