Longitudinal Study of the Relationship between Lifestyles and Related Health Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly

[Purpose] This study investigated the relationships among lifestyles, functional capacity, and motor ability that influence self-reliance over a period of 2 years. [Subjects] The subjects were 53 elderly people (average age: 76.4 years) living on A Island,who were independent in ADL in the baseline survey conducted in 2005. [Methods] The survey was conducted by interviews and motor ability test. There were 22 items for lifestyles, 13 items for functional capacity and 3 items for physical performance in the survey. The present study was undertaken in order to identify predictors of lifestyles at follow-up carried out 2 years later. [Results] Grip strength, intellectual activity, and social role were lower than those in 2005. In the relationship between lifestyles and functional capacity, subjective view of health (SVH) showed a significant correlations social lifestyles and instrumental activities, social role, all lifestyles and subjective view of health. In considering these outcomes and the differences between decrease and maintenance of lifestyle groups at baseline, those which could influence psychological lifestyles, were examined. [Conclusion] These results suggest that efforts to maintain lifestyle, and functional capacity might be useful for maintaining active self-reliance in the elderly.