Social connectedness and health from Okinawa's perspective

Abstract

Objectives: This article is a special report of the chair's presentation held at the 25th annual conference of the Japanese Society of Health Education and Promotion in Okinawa, June 11th to 12th 2016. An outline of the presentation is as follows.
Contents: First, the current situation and trends of health status in Okinawa were overviewed briefly, and slowing in the extension of the life expectancy and higher mortality in working-age population were shown. As for the background, it was suggested that unhealthy life style directly influenced on ill health and social determinants of health in Okinawa was extremely behind. Second, from the point of view of the social determinants of health, the author focused on relationships between Okinawa's unique social context as represented by “Yuimāru” and health outcomes among population and discussed that social connectedness in Okinawa might buffer against health inequities. In regard to this point, the author introduced findings from studies on social connectedness and health outcomes among older and young people in Okinawa.
Conclusion: It was stressed that health education and promotion, based on improvement of social environment by using social ties among people, is very important.