Mobility,Social Networks,and Pain Predict Occupational Participation in Older Japanese Adults

Abstract

Chronic pain may impede occupational participation in older adults, but links among mobility, social networks, cognitive function, and pain-related factors remain unclear. To examine the relationships among these factors in relation to occupational participation in community-dwelling older Japanese adults. In this cross-sectional study, 130 adults more than 60 answered questions about occupational participation, mobility, social networks, cognitive function, and pain. Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract latent variables representing key constructs. These were incorporated into structural equation modeling to examine their associations with occupational participation. Latent factors combining mobility and social networks (standardized coefficient: 0.75), and cognitive functions (0.35), were directly and positively associated with occupational participation, while pain-related factors were strongly negatively correlated with mobility/social networks (−0.79, –0.73) but showed no direct association with participation. Interventions addressing both physical and social function and pain-related barriers may support occupational participation in older adults.

Plain Language Summary

Mobility, Social Life, and Pain: Keys to Staying Active for Older Adults in Japan

Staying active and involved in daily life is very important for the health and happiness of older adults. However, many older people live with chronic pain, which can make it difficult to participate in hobbies, social events, and even necessary daily tasks. To find better ways to support well-being, we wanted to understand the relationships between a person’s physical abilities, social life, thinking skills, and their experiences with pain. To do this, we invited 130 older adults who live in the community in Japan to take part in our research. We used a series of well-established questionnaires to ask them about their daily activities, mobility, social network, thinking skills, and pain-related issues. We then used a statistical analysis to look for connections and map out the relationships between all these factors. Our study found that the single most important factor associated with staying active was a combination of good mobility and a strong social network. Having good thinking skills was also directly linked to being more active. Interestingly, pain-related issues were not directly linked to lower activity levels in our group. However, these issues were strongly connected to having poorer mobility and weaker social networks. These findings suggest that to help older adults stay active, it is crucial to support both their physical ability to get around and their opportunities to socialize. Even though pain-related feelings might not be a direct roadblock, they seem to weaken the very foundations that make an active life possible. Therefore, healthcare professionals and community programs should consider offering support that addresses physical function, social connection, and pain management together.