A longitudinal study of the moderating effects of social capital on the relationships between changes in human capital and ikigai among Japanese older adults

Ikigai and suicidal ideation in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Ikigai i.e., a Japanese concept relating to purpose in life but that is somewhat broader, has been associated with better physical and mental health. However, little is known about its association with suicidality. This study examined the association between ikigai and suicidal ideation in the Japanese general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from 3371 adults aged ≥18 who participated in an online survey in March 2023. Information on ikigai and pandemic-related suicidal ideation was obtained from self-reports. Logistic regression was used to examine associations.

RESULTS

In a fully adjusted analysis, compared to those with ikigai, individuals who did not know if they had ikigai (OR: 1.96, 95 % CI: 1.36-2.82) or did not have ikigai (OR: 2.50, 95 % CI: 1.74-3.57) had significantly higher odds of suicidal ideation. In sex- and age-stratified analyses, not having ikigai was associated with significantly higher odds of suicidal ideation in all population subgroups with the highest odds being observed in individuals aged ≥60 (OR: 6.27, 95 % CI: 2.02-19.45).

CONCLUSIONS

An absence of ikigai was associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should examine the association between ikigai and suicidal behavior as well as explore the potential mechanisms linking ikigai and suicidality.

Ikigai and probable anxiety among adults in Japan

BACKGROUND

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that has been equated with having a sense of purpose in life. It has previously been linked to better physical health, although, as yet, there has been comparatively little research on its association with mental health outcomes. This study examined the association between ikigai and anxiety in the Japanese general population.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from 3701 adults who participated in an online survey in 2023. Information on ikigai was obtained with a single-item question, while the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale was used to assess probable anxiety. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between the variables.

RESULTS

In a fully adjusted analysis, compared to those with ikigai, individuals who reported that they did not have ikigai had over twice the odds of anxiety (OR: 2.04, 95%CI: 1.36-3.06). In a sex-stratified analysis, an absence of ikigai was associated with higher odds of probable anxiety in both men and women. However, when the analysis was stratified by age, in the fully adjusted model, not having ikigai was associated with significantly higher odds of probable anxiety in adults aged 35-59 (OR: 2.97, 95%CI: 1.63-5.41) but not in those aged 18-34 (OR: 1.28, 95%CI: 0.64-2.54) or ≥ 60 years old (OR: 1.59, 95%CI: 0.52-4.87).

LIMITATIONS

This study used cross-sectional data obtained in an online survey.

CONCLUSION

An absence of ikigai is associated with higher odds of probable anxiety among Japanese men and women and middle-aged adults.

Ikigai is associated with lower incidence of frailty during a 5-year follow-up in older women: The possible role of interleukin-6

PURPOSE

Ikigai, a psychological concept in Japanese culture representing a life worth living, contributes to health outcomes. This study examined the association between Ikigai and the incidence of frailty and sought to investigate the underlying biological mechanism by exploring inflammatory cytokines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the 2016 Kashiwa Cohort Study, 832 community-dwelling older adults without frailty were enrolled. Participants reported their Ikigai status at baseline. Frailty was defined as meeting three of Fried's five phenotypic criteria. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (ILs) and tumor necrosis factor α, were measured at baseline using immunoassays. Cox regression was used to analyze the association between Ikigai and new-onset frailty stratified by sex after adjusting for relevant confounders.

RESULTS

Overall, 7.1 % of 832 participants (75.8 ± 4.7 years, women 47.0 %) developed new-onset frailty during the 5-year follow-up. Older adults with Ikigai (n = 749) had better vitality and mental health and fewer depressive symptoms than those without Ikigai. In women, Ikigai was associated with a lower risk of developing frailty (a fully-adjusted hazard ratio=0.24, 95 % confidence interval: 0.08-0.73, P = 0.012). Notably, a significantly lower prevalence of exhaustion was observed in women with Ikigai (P < 0.001). A higher concentration of IL-6 was observed in women with Ikigai at baseline than in those without Ikigai who developed frailty (P = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that Ikigai could prevent frailty in women, which might be attributed to mitigate exhaustion. Furthermore, the biological actions of Ikigai are associated with high IL-6 levels. Our findings suggest that sex-specific frailty prevention should be considered with Ikigai.

Would you be healthier if you had more social capital? Focusing on university students' social media use in Japan

BACKGROUND

This study examined how university students' social media use is related to their mental health (subjective well-being [SWB] and loneliness) and perceived physical health. A cognitive bias model and a social network mediation model were used to compare social capital formed via face-to-face and online communication, considering the effects of personality traits (i.e., social skills, generalized trust, and social tolerance).

METHODS

We conducted a self-report survey with 409 university students in Japan from August to September 2022. Four patterns of social media use were analyzed: (1) Twitter only, (2) LINE + Twitter, (3) Instagram + Twitter, and (4) Discord + Twitter. Relationships between the variables were investigated with a structural equation modeling analysis using SmartPLS 4.0.

RESULTS

Overall, regardless of social media use patterns, personality traits had positive direct effects on mental health and also had positive effects on social capital via face-to-face (FTF) communication, which had mediating effects on the improvement of mental health. FTF social capital had a positive relationship with online social capital, which did not have relationships with mental or perceived physical health. Additionally, perceived physical health decreased loneliness but was not associated with SWB. Social media use negatively affected perceived physical health but had no effect on SWB or loneliness. Finally, different relationships between personality traits and social media use, FTF social capital and SWB, social media use and perceived physical health were observed among the four patterns of social media use.

CONCLUSION

This study has implications for improving the health of young adults in the "mobile x social era." In particular, we provide suggestions to help young adults improve their mental health.

Factors Related to Ikigai among Home-visit Rehabilitation Users Aged 75 Years and Older Receiving Home Medical and Nursing Care in Japan

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the factors that influence Ikigai among people aged 75 years and older using home medical and nursing care with home-visit rehabilitation.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved 66 home-visit rehabilitation users aged 75 years or older who received home medical and nursing care at 2 home-care nursing stations. The following attributes were evaluated: Ikigai-9, life-space assessment (LSA), home-based LSA (Hb-LSA), Frenchay activities index (FAI), functional independence measure (FIM), self-efficacy for activities of daily living (SEADL), self-efficacy scale for going out among community-dwelling elderly (SEGE), and physical function. The correlation between Ikigai-9 scores and each assessment was examined. Multiple regression analysis was performed using the Ikigai-9 as the dependent variable and the correlated items as independent variables.

RESULTS

The Hb-LSA, FAI, FIM, SEADL, and SEGE were correlated with Ikigai-9. Among the correlated items, the FAI was selected for multiple regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Home-visit rehabilitation users aged 75 and over may be more likely to feel Ikigai if they have higher instrumental ADLs.

An Integrated Cognitive-Motivational Model of Ikigai (Purpose in Life) in the Workplace

In the Japanese philosophy of life, 'ikigai' broadly refers to having a 'reason for living', or a purpose in life. From a phenomenological and empirical viewpoint, ikigai is reported to increase human well-being and even life expectancy. However, it remains difficult to translate, define and formalize with regard to contemporary psychological theories. In this respect, the aim of this paper is twofold: to capture as accurately as possible what ikigai is, and to examine whether the concept applies to a professional context. We first offer a comprehensive overview of ikigai, bridge the gap between this specific body of literature and related psychological theoretical frameworks, such as those addressing motivation, well-being, and attention. On this basis, we conceptualize an integrated cognitive-motivational model of ikigai using an IPO (Input-Process-Output) framework: we organize dispositional or situational factors supposedly supporting ikigai as inputs, fueling the core process of ikigai (mainly built from motivational and attentional mechanisms), which produce outcomes (including well-being). A feedback loop completes the model and allows the process to maintain over time. This conceptual proposal is a first step towards applying and testing the model in professional contexts, in order to renew our approach of engagement, well-being, and performance at work as well as inspire workplace evolution.

Understanding the Connection Among Ikigai, Well-Being, and Home Robot Acceptance in Japanese Older Adults: Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Ikigai (meaning or purpose in life) is a concept understood by most older adults in Japan. The term has also garnered international attention, with recent academic attempts to map it to concepts in the Western well-being literature. In addition, efforts to use social and home robots to increase well-being have grown; however, they have mostly focused on hedonic well-being (eg, increasing happiness and decreasing loneliness) rather than eudaimonic well-being (eg, fostering meaning or purpose in life).

OBJECTIVE

First, we explored how Japanese older adults experience ikigai and relate these to concepts in the Western well-being literature. Second, we investigated how a home robot meant to promote ikigai is perceived by older adults.

METHODS

We used a mixed methods research design-including 20 interviews with older adults, a survey of 50 older adults, and 10 interviews with family caregivers. For interviews, we asked questions about older adults' sources of ikigai, happiness, and social support, along with their perception of the robot (QT). For surveys, a number of well-being scales were used, including 2 ikigai scales-ikigai-9 and K-1-and 6 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scales, measuring meaning and purpose, positive affect, satisfaction with participation in social roles, satisfaction with participation in discretionary social activities, companionship, and emotional support. Questions related to the perception and desired adoption of the robot and older adults' health status were also included.

RESULTS

Our results suggest that health is older adults' most common source of ikigai. Additionally, although self-rated health correlated moderately with ikigai and other well-being measures, reported physical limitation did not. As opposed to social roles (work and family), we found that ikigai is more strongly related to satisfaction with discretionary social activities (leisure, hobbies, and friends) for older adults. Moreover, we found that older adults' sources of ikigai included the eudaimonic aspects of vitality, positive relations with others, contribution, accomplishment, purpose, and personal growth, with the first 3 being most common, and the hedonic aspects of positive affect, life satisfaction, and lack of negative affect, with the first 2 being most common. However, the concept of ikigai was most related to eudaimonic well-being, specifically meaning in life, along the dimension of significance. Finally, we found that Japanese older adults have high expectations of a home robot for well-being, mentioning that it should support them in a multitude of ways before they would likely adopt it. However, we report that those with the highest levels of meaning, and satisfaction with their leisure life and friendships, may be most likely to adopt it.

CONCLUSIONS

We outline several ways to improve the robot to increase its acceptance, such as improving its voice, adding functional features, and designing it to support multiple aspects of well-being.

Relationships between locomotive and non-locomotive MVPA and 'ikigai' in older Japanese adults

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA) of moderate to vigorous intensity (MVPA) and ikigai in older Japanese adults. We evaluated the amount of PA using an activity meter equipped with a three-axis accelerometer. The measured activities were classified into locomotive PA and non-locomotive PA to clarify not only the relationship between MVPA and ikigai, but the types of activities that lead to increased ikigai as well.

Methods

Participants were 86 community-dwelling older adult Japanese men and women. Measurement items included basic information (age, sex, BMI, and the number of underlying diseases), PA, Self-completed Occupational Performance Index (SOPI), and ikigai (the K-1 Scale). Confounding factors presumed to be related to ikigai were also elicited from previous studies. Associations of ikigai into three groups (high, middle, and low) with PA were analyzed by group comparisons and multivariate analyses.

Results

The comparison of PA indices among the high, middle, and low ikigai groups revealed that non-locomotive MVPA is significantly associated with ikigai (p < 0.05). In multiple comparisons, the low ikigai group was significantly and negatively affected by non-locomotive MVPA (p < 0.05) compared to the middle and high ikigai groups. Furthermore, in a multivariate analysis with ikigai as the dependent variable and sex, age, locomotive MVPA, and non-locomotive MVPA as independent variables, only non-locomotive MVPA (p < 0.05) was associated.

Discussion

These results suggest that non-locomotive MVPA is effective in enhancing ikigai.

How is the problematic smartphone use affected by social support? A research model supported by the mediation of Ikigai

Social support and ikigai (making life worthwhile) have positive effects on problematic smartphone use and are seen to be related to each other. However, what mediates these relationships has not been adequately analyzed. This study aims to examine how the effect between social support and problematic smartphone use occurs by suggesting the mediator role of ikigai. The study was designed as quantitative and cross-sectional, and 1189 university participants aged 18 and over were reached online. The multidimensional scale of perceived social support, ikigai-9 scale, smartphone application-based addiction scale and sociodemographic information form were used as data collection tools in the study. The data obtained were carried out using SPSS 24 and Amos 25 statistical programs. Established hypotheses were tested with correlation, multiple regression and mediation analyzes. The results confirmed that social support was positively associated with ikigai, and ikigai was negatively associated with problematic smartphone use. In addition, interaction analyzes found that ikigai had a mediating effect. These findings show the importance of implementing specific applications based on the meaning and purpose of life (ikigai), especially for vulnerable groups, to minimize the problems that may arise with the excessive use of smartphones.

Overlap of Physical, Cognitive, and Social Frailty Affects Ikigai in Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults

This study aimed to investigate whether the overlap of physical, cognitive, and social frailty affects Ikigai in community-dwelling Japanese older adults. Participants were 116 community-dwelling older adult Japanese men and women. Associations of physical, cognitive, and social frailty with falls, daily living assessment, and Ikigai were analyzed by group comparisons and multivariate analyses. Physical, cognitive, and social frailty were associated with the risk of falls and Ikigai. An increase in the number of frailty category overlaps was associated with an increased risk of falls and decrease in Ikigai. Multivariate analyses adjusted for confounding factors showed that physical and cognitive frailty were related to Ikigai. In conclusion Two or more overlapping numbers of physical, cognitive, and social frailty had adverse effects on Ikigai in community-dwelling Japanese older adults.

Social Support and Participation as Factors Relating to Ikigai and Life Satisfaction in Lonely Older Japanese

This study investigated associations among loneliness, social support, social participation, and well-being among the Japanese elderly. We predicted that the negative association between loneliness and well-being would be weaker in people with adequate social support and frequent social participation. We measured ikigai and life satisfaction as indices of well-being. Ikigai and life satisfaction both include satisfaction with a person’s current and past life, yet ikigai also includes unique concepts such as satisfaction with social interactions and positive expectations for the future. Data of 418 Japanese aged 75 and older were analyzed; findings demonstrated that loneliness was negatively related to ikigai but not life satisfaction. There was a significant interaction between loneliness and social support for life satisfaction and ikigai. The interaction between loneliness and the frequency of social participation was significant only for ikigai. Post-hoc analysis indicated that social support and social participation frequency were negatively related to the negative association between loneliness and well-being, especially ikigai. These results suggest that ikigai and life satisfaction have a differential relationship to loneliness and social interaction because the concept of ikigai uniquely included perceived social roles.

Three-year effects of neighborhood social network intervention on mental and physical health of older adults

OBJECTIVES

Although neighborhood is considered to be a crucial source of social network to promote health among older adults, current findings are mostly derived from observational study designs. This study examined whether participations in event-based community programs could increase neighborhood social network and whether such increase could lead to desirable changes in mental and physical health among older adults.

METHOD

This study employed quasi-experimental design. A baseline questionnaire survey was sent to residents of Tsurukabuto community aged 60 years or more (n = 1769); 1,068 responded. Community events were implemented approximately once a month for three years. Then, a three-year follow-up survey questionnaire was sent to the respondents of the baseline survey. The total number of respondents in the latter survey was 662; of the total, 173 participated in the intervention. Strong and weak ties with neighbors, mental well-being (Ikigai-9), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) were measured in the surveys.

RESULTS

The path analysis revealed that intervention participation was significantly associated with changes in strong ties (standardized path coefficient = 0.12) and changes in strong ties were associated with those in Ikigai-9 scores (standardized path coefficient = 0.15). The total and indirect effects of intervention participation on Ikigai-9 scores were significant. Significant intervention effects were not observed for HRQOL and IADL scores.

CONCLUSION

This study found that participation in our event-based intervention could indirectly and positively influence older adults' mental well-being through their strong ties with their neighbors.

Predictors and Importance of Social Aspects in Ikigai among Older Women

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 years and above (N = 132). Physical function and social activity were used as predictors of Ikigai. In addition, willingness for new interactions was used to examine the social aspects of health. A causal model was created from these factors, and path analysis was performed. The results demonstrated that participating in numerous interpersonal activities was predictive of increased Ikigai, but physical function was not. In addition, Ikigai was found to affect the willingness for new interactions. Further, Ikigai could be related to the willingness for new interactions. To enhance the social aspects of older women’s health, it is necessary to focus on Ikigai.

The moderating effect of place attachment on the relationship between economic status and well-being among the older adults in Japan

IKIGAI is culturally defined as a subjective evaluation of well-being in Japan and is believed to be an important factor in achieving a better life. This study determined the association between economic status and well-being using IKIGAI and the moderating effect of place attachment on their association among 499 older adults people over 65 years of age in Japan. The result of hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that lower economic status significantly decreased well-being. We also observed a significant interactive effect of place attachment on the association between economic status and well-being (β = 0.085, p = 0.041). In other words, improving place attachment was beneficial in alleviating the impact of lower economic status on well-being for the older adults. As the aged population increases across the globe, the way in which societies can counteract the adverse impact of economic status through place attachment could be highly beneficial.