title: Factors affecting the mental health of residents in a communal-housing project for seniors in Japan.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate mental health status and the factors related to it in residents of a communal-housing project for independently living elderly in Japan. Two hundred and seven persons (average age: 74 years) residing in the Silver Peer Housing Project, a seniors' communal-housing project designed for independent living, were interviewed face-to-face using a general health questionnaire (GHQ-28), mental status questionnaire (MSQ) and other questionnaire containing items on personal, social, and building/facility parameters. Using a GHQ score of 7 or over to indicate poor general mental health, approximately half of the residents (45.7%) were shown to have some psychiatric problems. Independent contributors to a high GHQ score were attendance of hobby-club meetings (odds ratio (95% CI): 0.4; range, 0.2-0.8); difficulty in laying out or putting away the bedding (odds ratio (95% CI): 2.0; range, 1.0-4.2); difficulty in standing up from a sitting position on a mat (odds ratio (95% CI): 2.0; range, 1.0-4.1); and difficulty in reaching bus or train stops (odds ratio (95% CI): 2.5; 1.2-5.2); by the step-wise multiple logistic regression analysis. It was shown that a considerable number of the residents in the Silver Peer Housing facilities studied had mental health problems associated with limitations in the layout of their apartment and/or the location of the housing. Our results suggest that it may be worthwhile to prepare more comfortable housing, and to provide psychogeriatric day treatment and a communal space open to public in the Silver Peer Housing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science and Welfare, Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tennoudai 1-1-1, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Migita
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yanagi
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomura
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011638:Public Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population