The Prevalence of Social Engagement in the Disabled Elderly and Related Factors
Table 2
Factors associated with social engagement in the disabled elderly (univariate analysis).
Variables
Social engagementb ()c
No social engagementb ()c
valuea
Sex
Male
9 (39.1)
23 (36.5)
0.824
Female
14 (60.9)
40 (63.5)
Age structure
65–74 years
7 (30.4)
18 (29.0)
0.900
75–84 years
16 (69.6)
44 (71.0)
Disability level
Mild disability
17 (73.9)
35 (55.6)
0.285
Moderate disability
4 (17.4)
16 (25.4)
Severe disability
2 (8.7)
12 (19.0)
Household composition
Living alone
4 (19.0)
10 (16.1)
0.744
Not living alone
17 (81.0)
52 (83.9)
Years of residence
<10 years
8 (36.4)
13 (21.0)
0.152
≥10 years
14 (63.6)
49 (79.0)
Years of education
≤9 years
9 (40.9)
30 (50.0)
0.465
≥10 years
13 (59.1)
30 (50.0)
Paid employment
Yes
2 (9.1)
2 (3.3)
0.285
No
20 (90.9)
59 (96.7)
Livelihood status
Good·Normal
17 (77.3)
37 (59.7)
0.139
Bad
5 (22.7)
25 (40.3)
Visits to medical institutions
≥1/month
20 (90.9)
51 (82.3)
0.498
<1/month
2 (9.1)
11 (17.7)
Instrumental activities of daily living
0 point
5 (25.0)
31 (50.0)
0.050
1~5 point
15 (75.0)
31 (50.0)
Frequency of going out
≥1/week
16 (69.6)
29 (46.0)
0.053
<1/week
7 (30.4)
34 (54.0)
Health-related QOL (SF-8)
Physical aspects
38.27 ± 8.64
34.99 ± 10.43
0.207
Mental aspects
44.22 ± 9.20
41.26 ± 10.93
0.278
Self-rated health
Good
9 (39.1)
13 (20.6)
0.082
Poor
14 (60.9)
50 (79.4)
Psychological independence
23.63 ± 5.49
18.36 ± 5.33
<0.001
Social network (LSNS-6)
13.41 ± 8.32
8.82 ± 5.37
0.023
Someone to consult with when in trouble
Yes
19 (90.5)
55 (91.7)
1.000
No
2 (9.5)
5 (8.3)
Someone to consult with when sick
Yes
18 (85.7)
56 (93.3)
0.368
No
3 (14.3)
4 (6.7)
Someone to assist with everyday life such as housework
Yes
18 (85.7)
54 (90.0)
0.689
No
3 (14.3)
6 (10.0)
Someone to take the subject to a hospital when he/she is unhealthy
Yes
19 (90.5)
55 (91.7)
1.000
No
2 (9.5)
5 (8.3)
Someone to take care of the subject when he/she is laid up
Yes
18 (85.7)
53 (88.3)
0.714
No
3 (14.3)
7 (11.7)
aCategorical variables were assessed using chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Continuous variables were assessed using Mann-Whitney -test or Student's -test.
bOne point or more is defined as “social engagement” and zero point as “no social engagement.”
cThe sum of the numbers in some items is not equal to the total mentioned in the top row because of missing data.
