Factors Related to Physical Activity among Older Adults Who Relocated to a New Community after the Kumamoto Earthquake: A Study from the Viewpoint of Social Capital

Yumie Kanamori (), Ayako Ide-Okochi and Tomonori Samiso
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Yumie Kanamori: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto City 862-0976, Japan
Ayako Ide-Okochi: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto City 862-0976, Japan
Tomonori Samiso: Health and Welfare Policy Division, Health and Welfare Bureau, Kumamoto City 860-0808, Japan

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Previous studies have shown an association between social capital and physical activity in older adults. Older adults who relocated after the Kumamoto earthquake may become physically inactive, and the extent of this inactivity may be buffered by social capital. Accordingly, this study applied the social capital perspective to examine factors that affect the physical activity of older adults who relocated to a new community after the Kumamoto earthquake. We conducted a self-administered mail questionnaire survey with 1494 (613 male, 881 female, mean age 75.12 ± 7.41 years) evacuees from temporary housing in Kumamoto City, aged 65 years and above, who relocated to a new community after the earthquake. We performed a binomial logistic regression to examine the factors affecting participants’ physical activity. The results showed that physical inactivity (decreased opportunities for physical activity, decreased walking speed, and no exercise habits) was significantly associated with non-participation in community activities, lack of information about community activities, and being aged 75 years and over. Lack of social support from friends was significantly associated with lack of exercise habits. These findings encourage participation in community activities, alongside giving and receiving social support in health activities that target older adults who relocated to new communities after the earthquake.

Keywords: earthquake; relocation; physical inactivity; community participation; social support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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