[Factors associated with self-rated health for non-institutionalized aged persons].
OBJECTIVE
To determine factors affecting self-rated health among the non-institutionalized elderly in Japan.


METHODS
In 20 municipalities in Japan, 6,094 persons aged 65 years and older who were not institutionalized were selected at random. A questionnaire survey was conducted from September through November 2000. The distribution of self-rated health was rated in terms of dependent variables, with odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals calculated using unconditional logistic models.


RESULTS
Of the study population, 5,565 persons (91.8%) responded to the survey. Of the respondents, 64.4% answered that they were healthy, while 28.8% were not. The necessity for periodical visit to hospitals and clinics, and lowering of the activity of daily living greatly lowered self-rated health. Compared with those who were 85 years of age or older, a high health status was observed among those aged between 75 and 84 years, but not those aged 65 to 74 years. Those who tried to have exercise periodically, who had a vice-leadership role in a group, who joined social activities, who lived what they considered a worthwhile life, and who had positive positive activities in daily life, had high levels of self-rated health. Joining social activities for passive reasons elevated the health as well as joining for active reasons such as "because it is fun."


CONCLUSIONS
Even if the reason is passive, joining social activities may elevate the self-rated health levels of elderly people.
Nakamura
Yosikazu
Y
Department of Sociology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Letters.
Kaneko
Isamu
I
Kawamura
Yuko
Y
Sakano
Tatsuro
T
Naito
Katsuo
K
Maeda
Kazuo
K
Kurobe
Mutsuo
M
Hirata
Shigeru
S
Yazaki
Toshiki
T
Goto
Yasuaki
Y
Hashimoto
Shuji
S
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male