Michiyo Hirano

Ikigai is a unique Japanese concept that encompasses not only joy and happiness, but also the purpose and meaning of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that contribute to Ikigai, an important concept in the health of older women, and to clarify the relationship between Ikigai and the enhancement of the social aspects of their health. The participants in this longitudinal study, conducted between October 2017 and February 2020, were physically healthy older women aged 65 y

The meaning of participation in care prevention group activities may encourage continuous participation, making older adults active and healthy throughout their lives. This study developed a scale to assess the meaning of participation in care prevention group activities. It involved 427 participants in care prevention group activities (CPGAs) in Japan who filled out a self-administered questionnaire between October 2017 and February 2018. The meaning of participation was assessed using 15 items

Seventy-five HOP and 157 OPRS provided effective responses. The scale (α = 0.805) had three subscales: "interactions with friends and neighbors (F1)," "close relationships with family (F2)" and "interactions with others through activity programs (F3)." SASOS and SAI-E scores were correlated (<i>r</i> = .558, <i>p</i> < .01), indicating criterion-related validity. In known-groups validity analysis, F1 were significantly higher among HOP and F3 were significantly higher among OPRS. Total scores co

This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of an application (app) in establishing social connectedness among unacquainted older men, as well as improving their physical health. The nine participants were men aged 65 and older in the subarctic zone of Hokkaido, Japan. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted as the study design. A questionnaire survey was completed before and after the intervention, and a semi-structured interview was conducted after the intervention. An app-

The comprehensive career development scale for PHNs proved its reliability and validity. This scale may be useful to promote PHN identity and competency comprehensively in basic education and in-charge education.

SASOWS appears to be a reliable, valid, and useful scale to measure social activities specific for older women requiring support. Future studies should continue to examine the items and usefulness of this scale.

The spread of COVID-19 is considered to have strengthened people's awareness of others. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced connection with others among older adults and increased loneliness. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting loneliness among older adults in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on the connection with others. The target group included 932 rural Japanese adults, aged 65-74 years. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey w

Given the rapid increase in health information available, health literacy is now more important than ever when searching for health information online. Furthermore, health literacy and online health information searching are reported to be associated with support from others. In this study, we examined the associations of health literacy and social support with online health information searching among individuals in their 50s and 60s. Between March and May 2022, an anonymous self-administered q

We developed ‘Kikoeru’, a pedometer and communication application (app) for older people, with functions that include voice conversations and messages, photograph sharing, and pedometer sharing among users. This pilot study aimed to clarify the effects of Kikoeru on social connectedness related to interactions through the app, subjective health, loneliness, and setting a target number of steps for seven men aged 65 and older who lived at home. Survey items consisted of the Ando-Osada-Kodama lone

This study offers a promising opportunity for further development and research into community-based preventive nursing care intervention strategies to maintain the psychosocial health of homebound older people in communities with social activity groups.

Disaster preparedness education invokes a responsibility toward the prevention of isolation in the disaster and perceives it as a community issue and encourages individuals to support others.

Four values of social activities were identified: "Mutual benefit connectedness," "Preventing and coping with aging," "Making life brilliant 'now'," and "Building a safety net." Three prerequisites for activities were identified: "Do not overreach," "Do not infringe on personal territory," and "Do not go against community norms." Social activities provide rural older adults with reciprocity ties, coping with aging, enhanced daily lives, and a social safety net. Continued participation in rural s

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the social activities of older men who require daily support, and to clarify the purpose of such activities, in order to develop effective living support and preventive long-term care service, suitable for this population.Methods Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 older men. Data were analyzed using inductive and qualitative methods.Results Four categories of social activities were identified, and four categories of p