Factors Associated With Life Space Among Community‐Living Rural Elders in Japan

ABSTRACT Objectives: The study objective was to identify factors associated with life space to examine the service needs of the elderly. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Sample: 2,409 community‐living elderly in a rural town in Japan. Measurement: Daily activity level was used as a proxy for life space. Respondents were asked about their daily activity, health status, and psychosocial factors in a self‐administered questionnaire. Factors associated with life space were identified using general linear models. Relative associations of each factor with life space were tested using stepwise multiple regression procedure. Results: Elderly in a smaller life space were significantly older, had more illnesses, worse activities of daily living (ADL), and poor self‐rated health. Poor psychological well‐being and fewer social relations were also associated with a smaller life space. Age and ADL difficulty accounted for 51.7% of life space variations. In addition, more elderly with ADL difficulty expressed unmet needs for transportation and socializing opportunities. Conclusions: Life space was related not only to age or health status but also to environmental or psychosocial factors. Appropriate services for a vulnerable population may have a positive effect on elderly health. Moreover, elderly life space may be used as an indicator to identify people at risk in order to provide more effective community‐based programs for the elderly.