Community attachment as a factor in the subjective well-being of older adults in urban and rural areas: A case study in Tokyo, Osaka, and Shikoku region in Japan

This study explored the relationship between community
participation/community attachment and subjective well-being (SWB) among
Japanese older adults. The study was conducted in Japanese urban (Tokyo
and Osaka) and rural (Shikoku region) areas. Structural equation modelling
was performed to assess the potential relationship between community
participation, community attachment and SWB. Results showed that community
participation and community attachment were positively associated in both
areas. However, community attachment had a significant impact on SWB only
in rural areas with little impact on increasing SWB in urban areas. We
conclude that the role of community attachment varies according to regions
with different socioeconomic properties. These findings contribute to the
design of detailed region-specific initiatives to improve SWB of older
adults.