title: [The frequency of going outdoors, and physical, psychological and social functioning among community-dwelling older adults].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between the frequency of going outdoors and physical, psychological, and social functioning among community-dwelling older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of all residents aged 65 and over residing in Yoita town, Niigata prefecture (n = 1,673), 1,544 living at home participated in an interview survey held in November 2000. Physical, psychological, and social functioning were compared among four groups defined by the frequency of going outdoors: (1) at least once a day, (2) about once per 2-3 days, (3) about once a week, and (4) seldom. To examine the independent association between the frequency of going outdoors and potential factors, we used multiple logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall distribution of the frequency of going outdoors among the subjects was 76.3% for at least once a day, 13.1% for about once per 2 or 3 days, 3.7% for about once a week, and 6.9% for seldom. The frequency of going outdoors did not differ between genders, but showed significant decrease with advancing age in both sexes. Elderly going outdoors more often were less functionally impaired, scored less for depression and were more socially active than their counterparts going outdoors less often. Multiple logistic regression analysis with the forced entry method identified walking difficulty and fear of falls as the most powerful independent factors associated with going outdoors less than or equal to once a week, while low social activity and a more depressed score were important factors associated with going outdoors about once per 2-3 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of going outdoors may be regarded as a generic health indicator among community-dwelling elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Community Health Research Group, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Motohashi
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinkai
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012044:Regression Analysis