Association Between Frequency and Type of Social Participation and Incidence of Frailty Among Non-Frail Japanese Older Adults: Three-Year Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Prevention of health impairments among older adults is crucial. We investigated the relationship between the number, type, and frequency of social participation and frailty onset in older adults. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study involving community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. At baseline, four categories of social participation were assessed: volunteer, hobby, sports, and learning groups. Participants (n = 18,023) were followed up after 3 years to determine frailty onset. Hazard ratios for the occurrence of frailty were significant for one, two, and three or more types. Participating in sports groups at least once per month and hobby groups at least once per month impacted frailty onset. Involvement in multiple types of groups was associated with reduced onset of frailty. Specifically, participation in sports or hobby groups was related to a lower incidence of frailty, even after excluding other influencing factors.