Older Places and Older-Adult Health Trajectories in Japan

• In Event: 289 - Regular Session. Health and Mortality in Later Life

Abstract

This study examines relationships between living in relatively older and younger municipalities and three health outcomes (self-rated health; age-comparative health; and depressive symptoms). Using a national sample of almost 5,000 Japanese older adults over two decades, I employ hierarchical growth curve logistic regression models to estimate health trajectories by local area age structure.

Living in the oldest Japanese municipalities was generally associated with a greater probability of reporting more unfavorable health outcomes between ages 60 and 80; when compared to living in relatively younger areas. For two health outcomes (self-rated health and depressive symptoms) these relationships could not be explained by two commonly-used measures of social functioning at the municipal level (economic performance and residential stability). This study also reveals that greater individual-level social engagement among older adults living in oldest areas help protect against reporting even worse health.

Residential age structure remains a relatively unexplored measure in the body of research that links health and place. These findings have important implications in an aging world.

Authors

• Eric M. Vogelsang, California State University-San Bernardino

• James M. Raymo, University of Wisconsin-Madison