積雪寒冷地に住む高齢者の外出目的別楽しみの程度と外出に対する自己効力感との関係

The Relation between Enjoyment of Outing and Self-efficacy for Outing among Elderly Residents in a Cold Snowy Region

抄録

　本研究は，閉じこもり予防の観点から，積雪寒冷地に住む高齢者の外出目的別の楽しみの程度別に，外出に対する自己効力感の程度を明らかにした．積雪期・非積雪期それぞれに，A市から無作為抽出した390人に対し，郵送による無記名自記式質問紙法を実施した．基本属性3項目（年齢，性別，同居者の有無），外出目的10項目から複数選択し，選択した目的の外出に対する楽しみの程度を3件法でたずねた．目的にかかわらず，外出に対する自己効力感を6項目4件法でたずねた．対象者390人のうち，回答に欠損がなかったのは2時期ともに134人であり，分析対象とした（有効回答率34.4％）．基本属性のうち，外出に対する自己効力感と有意差を認めた項目は2時期とも年齢であり，前期高齢者の自己効力感が高かった．外出目的別の楽しみの程度では，積雪期において「受診」「役所・金融機関」「地域での役割」「除雪」で外出に対する自己効力感が有意に高かった．この結果から，外出に対する自己効力感を高めるには，身体状態が良好であること，外出目的そのものに対する楽しみのほかに，自身の役割を果たすことや，外出先での他者との交流に対する楽しみを含む可能性が示唆された．

　Objectives: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of snowfall on self-efficacy among the elderly with the focus on homebound tendency.

　Method: We randomly selected 390 elderly residents in a cold snowy region. We mailed a questionnaire in both the snowy season and the non-snowy season. The survey content was their background (age, gender, whether there is a housemate), outing purpose up to 10 items, enjoyment for each selected outing purpose item, and self-efficacy for outing in general.

　Results: A total of 134 elderlies were analyzed (response rate 34.4%). The background factor affecting self-efficacy for outing was age in both seasons. Enjoyment of outing was positively related to self-efficacy only in the snowy season. The elderly with high self-efficacy reported they enjoyed “regular medical check-ups”, “visiting administrative or financial offices”, “role in the community” and “cleaning up the snow”.

　Conclusions: In order to raise self-efficacy for outing among elderly residents in cold snowy regions, it was suggested that they needed to be in good physical conditions and living environments. In addition, we found that the elderly with high self-efficacy include the enjoyment of their role and the enjoyment of interaction with others in addition to enjoyment of the purpose of outing.