title: Social cohesion and health in old age: a study in southern Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have found that social cohesion and trust (SCT) were associated with psychological well-being and physical health. In this study, we investigated the associations between SCT and mental and physical health among community-dwelling elderly in a town in southern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 149 community-dwelling elderly aged 65 years and older (68 men, 81 women; mean age, 75.4 ± 6.1 years) residing in the town of Dashe in southern Taiwan. Activities of daily living (ADL), SCT, depression, subjective quality of life (QOL), current medical status, past medical history, and health behaviors were assessed in face-to-face interviews. Objective neurobehavioral functions were assessed using the timed up & go (TUG) test, functional reach test, and handgrip test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scores for ADL and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were significantly correlated with SCT, and SCT was significantly correlated with all subjective QOL items. In addition, a strong correlation was observed between SCT and relationship with friends. Values for SCT (median ≥ 20) were significantly associated with both subjective sense of health (median ≥ 68) and subjective happiness (median ≥ 73) after adjusting for age, sex, and ADL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SCT is an important variable that influences self-rated health and happiness, independently of ADL, age, and sex. When assessing geriatric psychological function, SCT should be examined more carefully, given its association with subjective sense of health and happiness, depression, and physical function.
authors: Department of Field Medicine,School of Public Health,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Wenling
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: Center for Southeast Asian Studies,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Kiyohito
authors: K
authors: Okumiya
authors: Center for Southeast Asian Studies,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Taizo
authors: T
authors: Wada
authors: Hakubi Center,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Ryota
authors: R
authors: Sakamoto
authors: Department of Field Medicine,Graduate School of Medicine,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Hissei
authors: H
authors: Imai
authors: Center for Southeast Asian Studies,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Yasuko
authors: Y
authors: Ishimoto
authors: Center for Southeast Asian Studies,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Yumi
authors: Y
authors: Kimura
authors: Department of Field Medicine,School of Public Health,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Eriko
authors: E
authors: Fukutomi
authors: Center for Southeast Asian Studies,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Michiko
authors: M
authors: Fujisawa
authors: College of Medicine,National Cheng Kung University,Tainan,Taiwan.
authors: Hsin-I
authors: HI
authors: Shih
authors: College of Medicine,National Cheng Kung University,Tainan,Taiwan.
authors: Chia-Ming
authors: CM
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Field Medicine,School of Public Health,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan.
authors: Kozo
authors: K
authors: Matsubayashi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006240:Happiness; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: ADL; GDS; QOL; Taiwan; elderly; happiness; health; social cohesion and trust