Associations between spouse-supported disability-prevention activities and health conditions among community-dwelling older adults in Japan.

AIM: Spouse-supported disability prevention activities (DPAs) may be associated with better health. Therefore, older adults who live with a spouse tend to have better health than those who live alone. However, it remains unclear how spouse-supported DPAs are associated with health conditions and engagement in these activities among older adults. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with spouse-supported DPAs among older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hiroshima Prefecture between February and March 2023. We mailed surveys to 1800 participants 65 years of age or older and collected data regarding age, sex, chronic medical conditions, household living arrangements, self-perceived need for care, and the Kihon Checklist (KCL). The physical and daily function, nutrition, and oral health and swallowing ability domains of DPAs were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 277 participants (108 in the living alone group and 169 in the living with spouse only group) were analyzed. KCL scores for socialization and mood in the living alone group were poorer than those in the living with spouse only group. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that instrumental activities of daily living, mood, male sex, self-perceived need for care, and the physical and daily function domain of DPAs were significantly associated with spouse-supported DPAs. CONCLUSIONS: Spouse-supported DPAs were positively associated with health conditions and engagement in DPAs. Public health services should be tailored to support spousal involvement in disability prevention.