[The impact of relocation on well-being of the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
This study examined direct and indirect effects, mediated by social contact, of residential relocation on well-being of the elderly.


METHODS
We used longitudinal data of a national representative sample of individual aged 60 years and over (N = 1,474). The initial survey was conducted in 1987, and the follow-up survey was conducted three years later. Well-being was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA). Social contacts were measured in terms of frequency of contacts with relatives, friends and neighbors, as well as frequency of social participation.


RESULTS
Relocation had a positive direct effect on well-being, assessed by both CES-D and LSIA, but a negative indirect effect mediated by decline of social contacts.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that residential relocation indirectly has a detrimental effect on well-being of the elderly through decline in social contacts, though it may directly improve well-being of the elderly.
Saito
T
T
Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo.
Sugisawa
H
H
Sugihara
Y
Y
Okabayashi
H
H
Shibata
H
H
D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016852:Housing for the Elderly / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012917:Social Adjustment