Predictors and Importance of Social Aspects in Ikigai among Older Women

Abstract

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.

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

“…The relation of ikigai and DSA is also consistent with studies showing that maintenance of and increases in the number of weak and strong social connections is protective against potential declines in ikigai, along with studies causally linking the number of social activities to ikigai (but not physical functioning) [ 55 ]. Furthermore, there are several studies exploring the positive effects of leisure on ikigai.…”

“…Survey participants’ ikigai-9 scores averaged 28.38 (SD 6.08; range 13-44). Although the ikigai-9 scale does not specify the determination of ikigai levels based on score, previous literature found the average ikigai-9 scores for a sample of Japanese older adults to be 29.7 (SD 6.3) [ 55 ], whereas another found it to be 33.9 for a “high life purpose” group of community-dwelling older adults in Japan [ 92 ]. Scores here, therefore, are likely consistent with those of “average” Japanese older adults and represent participants having a wide range of ikigai.…”

“…Other research indicates that physical decline does not directly lead to loss of ikigai but rather that overlaps in “frail” categories do—that is, having issues with ≥2 of the following health indicators: physical health, cognitive health, or social health [ 54 ]. In addition, causative modeling has found involvement in social activities to be predictive of ikigai, whereas physical functioning was not [ 55 ]. Studies have also suggested that the benefits of health to ikigai are, at least partially, a consequence of participation in the leisure activities they allow [ 56 ].…”

Finding ikigai: How robots can support meaning in later life

“…Although the ikigai-9 scale does not specify a determination of ikigai levels based on score, we do note that scores tended to be high, with 33 participants scoring between 35 and 45 (the maximum); all survey participants’ scores averaged 37.1 (SD = 5.7). For comparison, previous literature found the average ikigai -9 score to be 29.7 (SD = 6.3) for one sample of Japanese OAs ( Seko and Hirano, 2021 ), while another found it to be 33.9 for a “high life purpose” group of community-dwelling OAs in Japan ( Tsuzishita and Wakui, 2021 ).…”

Development of the Japanese Version of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey

“…The mechanisms accounting for these effects are not well understood, though evidence suggests that increased activity levels may offer a protective effect by mitigating depression and the onset of disability. Recent research indicates that the development of a sense of life purpose and meaning via activity may foster social activities and minimize mortality risk (Alimujiang et al, 2019; Seko & Hirano, 2021). As well, evidence from a lifestyle intervention with ethnically diverse older adults has shown that the significance, or meaningfulness, of therapeutic activity may account for lower levels of depression compared with no treatment controls (Juang et al, 2018).…”