The Impact of Generativity on Maintaining Higher-Level Functional Capacity of Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study in Japan

Kumiko Nonaka (), Hiroshi Murayama, Yoh Murayama, Sachiko Murayama, Masataka Kuraoka, Yuta Nemoto, Erika Kobayashi and Yoshinori Fujiwara
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Kumiko Nonaka: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
Hiroshi Murayama: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
Yoh Murayama: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
Sachiko Murayama: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
Masataka Kuraoka: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
Yuta Nemoto: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
Erika Kobayashi: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
Yoshinori Fujiwara: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 11, 1-10

Abstract: Generativity is defined as an individual’s concern for and actions dedicated toward the well-being of others, especially youth and subsequent generations. It is a key stage of psychological development from midlife to older age and can be a guiding concept for promoting engagement of older adults in productive and contributive activities, which benefit their well-being. This study examined the longitudinal association between generativity and higher-level functional capacity (HLFC) decline in older Japanese adults. The two-year longitudinal data of 879 older adults aged 65–84 years were analyzed. Participants’ HLFC and generativity were assessed using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence and the Revised Japanese version of the Generativity Scale, respectively. The binary logistic regression analysis results showed that a higher generativity score was negatively associated with HLFC decline, indicating that generativity effectively prevents HLFC decline over 2 years. On adding the interaction term between generativity and sex to examine whether the protective effect of generativity differed by sex, we found that generativity was especially effective in protecting the HLFC decline in men with higher generativity. The study results highlight the importance of promoting engagement of older adults in generative activities to maintain their HLFC.

Keywords: generativity; higher-level functional capacity; older adults; longitudinal study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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