Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the structural causal effects of socio-economic factors, subjective health, and lifestyle on future equivalent income of elderly urban-community dwellers.
Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to elderly aged over 65 years, city residents in September 2001. The response rate was 80.2% (13,915/16,915). A follow-up survey was conducted in September 2004. From these surveys, data from 8,162 respondents aged under 85 years were analyzed by pass analysis to clarify the possible causal relationships between responses reported in 2001, educational status, subjective health, lifestyles, and yearly equivalent income reported in 2001 and 2004. The theoretical model was formulated using SPSS18.0J and AMOS18.0J for Windows.
Results: Three years after equivalent income has been decreased significantly for both sexes correlated with the three years before equivalent income in 2001. The yearly equivalent income in 2004 was totally and directly affected by the yearly equivalent income reported 3 years earlier with largest scales, whereas 2004 equivalent income was indirectly correlated with the health practices and the subjective health with small effect based on the career for both sexes. It should be noted that educational status influenced the yearly equivalent income in 2001 with significance, rather than the yearly equivalent income in 2004. Goodness-of-fit indices were high level. Determination coefficients of equivalent income were 16%-45% for both sexes.
Conclusion: In the new supportive health education, we should have attention to the results that the yearly equivalent income tend to be affected by the 3 years prior equivalent income base on the carrier. Further study is necessary to develop a model that has higher internal and external validity.
