Physical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a community
Abstract Background Examining the nature of help seeking and related factors among community-dwelling older adults is important to address social problems, such as loneliness and consumer damage. This study aimed to clarify factors related to the help-seeking preferences of community-dwelling older...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22049-z |
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| author | Tomoya Takahashi Yuri Yokoyama Satoshi Seino Kumiko Nonaka Hiroki Mori Mari Yamashita Hiroyuki Suzuki Yoh Murayama Yoshinori Fujiwara Erika Kobayashi |
| author_facet | Tomoya Takahashi Yuri Yokoyama Satoshi Seino Kumiko Nonaka Hiroki Mori Mari Yamashita Hiroyuki Suzuki Yoh Murayama Yoshinori Fujiwara Erika Kobayashi |
| author_sort | Tomoya Takahashi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Examining the nature of help seeking and related factors among community-dwelling older adults is important to address social problems, such as loneliness and consumer damage. This study aimed to clarify factors related to the help-seeking preferences of community-dwelling older adults. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among men and women aged 65 or older in Tokyo, in 2021. Overall, 5,576 respondents agreed to provide personal information. The survey items included a shortened version of the Help-seeking Preference Scale and measures to evaluate basic attributes, physical and mental health, and social relationships, which were predicted to be associated with help-seeking preferences. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the participants’ desire for and resistance to help. Results Multiple regression analysis revealed significant associations between high desire for help and being female, poor financial status, living alone, low subjective health, subjective forgetfulness, low mental health, low frequency of going out, high trust in community, and lack of social support. Significant associations were also found between high resistance to help and old age, low education level, difficult financial status, low mental health, social isolation, and low trust in the community. Conclusions Older adults who are struggling with mental health may have a high desire for help but also a high level of resistance to help, which may discourage them from requesting assistance. This suggests the importance of professionals’ outreach. Further, the results indicate the importance of fostering social capital in the community. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3490c193781e4936b87679bfd2e8c2d4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-3490c193781e4936b87679bfd2e8c2d42025-08-20T03:03:51ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-012511810.1186/s12889-025-22049-zPhysical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a communityTomoya Takahashi0Yuri Yokoyama1Satoshi Seino2Kumiko Nonaka3Hiroki Mori4Mari Yamashita5Hiroyuki Suzuki6Yoh Murayama7Yoshinori Fujiwara8Erika Kobayashi9Research Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyResearch Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyResearch Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyResearch Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyResearch Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyResearch Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyResearch Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyResearch Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyVice-president (Social and Human Sciences), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyResearch Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and GerontologyAbstract Background Examining the nature of help seeking and related factors among community-dwelling older adults is important to address social problems, such as loneliness and consumer damage. This study aimed to clarify factors related to the help-seeking preferences of community-dwelling older adults. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among men and women aged 65 or older in Tokyo, in 2021. Overall, 5,576 respondents agreed to provide personal information. The survey items included a shortened version of the Help-seeking Preference Scale and measures to evaluate basic attributes, physical and mental health, and social relationships, which were predicted to be associated with help-seeking preferences. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the participants’ desire for and resistance to help. Results Multiple regression analysis revealed significant associations between high desire for help and being female, poor financial status, living alone, low subjective health, subjective forgetfulness, low mental health, low frequency of going out, high trust in community, and lack of social support. Significant associations were also found between high resistance to help and old age, low education level, difficult financial status, low mental health, social isolation, and low trust in the community. Conclusions Older adults who are struggling with mental health may have a high desire for help but also a high level of resistance to help, which may discourage them from requesting assistance. This suggests the importance of professionals’ outreach. Further, the results indicate the importance of fostering social capital in the community.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22049-zHelp-seeking preferencesHelp-seeking behaviorSocial supportOlder adultsCross-sectional study |
| spellingShingle | Tomoya Takahashi Yuri Yokoyama Satoshi Seino Kumiko Nonaka Hiroki Mori Mari Yamashita Hiroyuki Suzuki Yoh Murayama Yoshinori Fujiwara Erika Kobayashi Physical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a community BMC Public Health Help-seeking preferences Help-seeking behavior Social support Older adults Cross-sectional study |
| title | Physical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a community |
| title_full | Physical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a community |
| title_fullStr | Physical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a community |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a community |
| title_short | Physical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a community |
| title_sort | physical psychological and social factors related to help seeking preferences among older adults living in a community |
| topic | Help-seeking preferences Help-seeking behavior Social support Older adults Cross-sectional study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22049-z |
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