Social participation in the neighborhood community prevents onset of disability in community‐dwelling older adults whose life space with activities is limited: A 2‐year prospective cohort study

Aims For older adults with limited life space and activity, social participation in the neighborhood community is essential to ensure social interaction and activity levels. This study examined the association between social participation in the neighborhood community and the onset of disability in older adults with different life spaces and activities. Methods The participants were 9513 older adults from a cohort study conducted at the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Study of Geriatric Syndromes (NCGG‐SGS). Social participation in the neighborhood community was assessed by participating in the community meetings. Life space with activities was evaluated using the Activity Mobility Index (AMI) developed in the NCGG‐SGS, with higher scores indicating better mobility and movement. The participants were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of their AMI scores (Q1–Q4). Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for disability incidence by social participation in each quartile. Results Over the 2‐year follow‐up period, disability occurred in 4.3% of the participants ( n = 409). In the Q1 group, participants who participated in the neighborhood community had a significantly lower risk of developing a disability than those who did not (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.28–0.76). There were no significant differences in onset of disability between the presence and absence of social participation for groups Q2, Q3, and Q4. Conclusions Social participation in the neighborhood community was associated with the onset of disability in the lowest life space group. Social participation within a limited life space with activities may prevent disability onset. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 609–618 .