Sie befinden Sich nicht im Netzwerk der Universität Paderborn. Der Zugriff auf elektronische Ressourcen ist gegebenenfalls nur via VPN oder Shibboleth (DFN-AAI) möglich. mehr Informationen...
Association of decreased frequency of conversation with depression, oral function and eating alone: A cross‐sectional study of older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Aim
This study examined the associations between geriatric factors and decreased opportunities for conversation among older adults amid a period of self‐restraint during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Methods
A cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based survey was carried out in October 2020. The participants were 204 residents aged ≥65 years staying at a private care home in Kyoto city, Japan. Logistic regression analysis was carried out with the reduction of conversation opportunities as the dependent variable, and geriatric factors as independent variables after adjusting for age and sex. We compared the decreased frequency of opportunities between residents in the assisted living wing and in the nursing care wing of the private care home.
Results
The percentages of respondents who reported a decrease in the opportunities for conversation among themselves were 43.9% for residents in the assisted living wing and 19.7% for those in the nursing care wing. After adjusting for age and sex, the opportunities for conversation was significantly associated with the basic activities of daily living (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.12), instrumental self‐maintenance (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08–1.46), intellectual activity (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.09–1.66), depression (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04–1.23), depressive mood (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.98–7.42), decreased motivation (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.58–6.12), appetite loss (OR 4.32, 95% CI 1.54–12.07), swallowing function (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00–1.10), chewing difficulty (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.31–4.75) and eating alone (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.35–4.62).
Conclusion
Decreased opportunities for conversation was more perceived among older adults with higher daily functioning, suggesting that it is associated with depressed mood, oral function and solitary eating. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 385–391.
This study aimed to identify factors associated with a decrease in the opportunities for conversation among older adults during the self‐restraint period during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Decreased opportunities for conversation was more perceived among older adults with higher daily functioning, suggesting that it is associated with depressed mood, oral function and solitary eating.