Association Between Meaningful Activities and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Rural Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between meaningful activities and frailty, including pre-frailty, among older adults in rural Japan. Data from 1,018 participants aged 65 years or older were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. Among the entire sample, the presence of meaningful activities was significantly associated with lower odds of both pre-frailty and frailty. Additionally, both higher performance and satisfaction with meaningful activities were associated with reduced odds of frailty-related outcomes. These findings underscore the role of meaningful activities in promoting healthy aging. Tailored occupational therapy interventions enhancing engagement in meaningful activities may help prevent frailty, particularly in rural settings.