Longitudinal associations of social group engagement with physical activity among Japanese older adults

• Published in: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 2021-01, Vol.92, p.104259-104259, Article 104259
• Main Authors: Nemoto, Yuta, Sato, Shinichiro, Kitabatake, Yoshinori, Nakamura, Mutsumi, Takeda, Noriko, Maruo, Kazushi, Arao, Takashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Community-based survey; Exercise; Humans; Independent Living; International Physical Activity Questionnaire; Japan - epidemiology; Longitudinal Studies; Moderate to vigorous physical activity; Panel data; Social participation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Walking
• ISSN: 0167-4943; 1872-6976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104259

•Declines in physical activity (PA) were observed during the follow-up.•Social group engagement (SGE) helps to suppress age-related decline in PA.•Consistent and new engagement contribute to maintaining total and moderate PA.•No difference in PA change between consistent engagement and dropping out.•No type of SGE mitigated the decrease in vigorous PA in older age. Although social group engagement (SGE) has been suggested to affect physical activity (PA) in older age, the longitudinal relationship between these variables is unclear. This study used 2-year panel data to investigate the link between changes in SGE and changes in PA among community-dwelling older adults. This study was a 2-year community-based longitudinal study enrolling older adults living in a rural municipality in Japan. The subjects were all residents in the study area aged ≥ 65 at the baseline. Mail surveys were administered in 2016 and 2018. The 3688 subjects responding to both surveys were included in the analyses. PA was evaluated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and weekly time and metabolic equivalent were computed. SGE was assessed in each wave and classified as consistent engagement (engagement reported in both surveys), new engagement (non-engagement at baseline and engagement at follow-up), leaving the group (engagement at baseline and non-engagement at follow-up), and consistent non-engagement (non-engagement in both surveys). Analysis of covariance was performed to examine the associations of changes in SGE with changes in PA. Compared with those with consistent non-engagement, who showed declines in every PA category, subjects with consistent engagement or new engagement showed significantly smaller changes in total PA, moderate-intensity PA, and brisk walking. Leaving the group (vs. consistent non-engagement) was associated with maintaining moderate-intensity PA. SGE helps to suppress the age-associated decline in PA in older age, with new engagement and continuous engagement, especially, mitigating decreasing PA.