title: Association between social group participation and perceived health among elderly inhabitants of a previously methylmercury-polluted area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study attempted to clarify the association between participation in a social group and perceived health among elderly residents of a previously methylmercury-polluted area in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study using eligible subjects from the Shiranui Sea coastal area, where mercury poisoning due to daily intake of fish and shellfish had previously caused some residents to develop the neurological disorder "Minamata disease (MD)." In the present study, we selected subjects aged ≥65 years who had never been diagnosed with MD or applied for medical treatment compensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A logistic regression model after adjusting for confounding factors showed that membership in a hobby or volunteer group was associated with good perceived health (odds ratio 1.97, 95 % confidence interval 1.02-3.80).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that the effects of membership in social groups on perceived health were not equal across all social groups, with only hobby- or volunteer-related groups having a positive effect on perceived health. Our findings suggested that promoting participation in a social group such as hobby- or volunteer-related groups can help improve perceived health among elderly individuals who had experienced environmental pollution incidents.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Science, Tokai University, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara-shi, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan, mktanaka@tokai-u.jp.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ushijima
authors.forename: Woncheol
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawakita
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Sadami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maruyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006686:Hobbies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D020262:Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D058992:Social Participation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014838:Volunteers
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds