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Awuviry-Newton K, Amoah D, Doh D, Agyemang-Duah W, Ofori-Dua K, Kowal P, Appiah SCY. Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and functional disability among older adults: The moderating roles of sex, physical activity, and multi-morbidity. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293016. [PMID: 38295112 PMCID: PMC10830004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Though the Ghanaian social structure is largely communal in several of its social life and social spaces, the extent to which cohesive neighbourhood affects functional ability of older persons and the moderating factors of the relationship, are unknown in Ghana. This study examines the moderating roles of sex, multimorbidity, and physical activity on the association between neighbourhood social cohesion and functional disability among older people in Ghana. A cross-sectional study of 4,446 people-50 years and older-from WHO's Study on global AGEing and adult health Ghana Wave 2 was employed. Functional disability-WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0-and neighbourhood social cohesion measured with community-level participation, perceived trust and safety were studied. Generalised Logistic regressions with interactional tests were used to examine the associations. A more socially cohesive neighbourhood was significantly associated with a lower functional disability among older people (OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.93, 0.94; P<0.001). A similar relationship was found for community-level participation (aOR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.94, 0.95; P<0.001) and perceived trust (aOR = 1.00, 95%CI: 0.99, 1.00; P<0.001). Community-level participation is associated with a lower functional disability among older people who were physically active (aOR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.96, 0.99; P<0.001). Among the three individual-level measures of neighbourhood social cohesion, only physical activity (OR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.98, 0.99; P<0.01) moderated the association between community-level participation and functional disability. Community-level participation, along with physical activity, may be relevant in improving functional ability among older people. The results highlight the usefulness of policy to ensure a more socially cohesive neighbourhood for older people in Ghana to improve their quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kofi Awuviry-Newton
- African Health and Ageing Research Centre (AHaARC), Australia
- College of Science, Health and Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dinah Amoah
- African Health and Ageing Research Centre (AHaARC), Australia
- School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | - Daniel Doh
- African Health and Ageing Research Centre (AHaARC), Australia
- School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Williams Agyemang-Duah
- African Health and Ageing Research Centre (AHaARC), Australia
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kwadwo Ofori-Dua
- African Health and Ageing Research Centre (AHaARC), Australia
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Paul Kowal
- International Health Transitions, Canberra, Australia
| | - Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Oe N, Tadaka E. Development of the Self-efficacy for Social Participation scale (SOSA) for community-dwelling older adults. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2294. [PMID: 37985978 PMCID: PMC10662651 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16774-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social participation is important for the health of older adults and super-aging societies. However, relatively few independent older adults in advanced countries actually participate in society, even though many of them have the capacity to do so. One possible reason for this could be a lack of self-efficacy for social participation. However, few scales have been developed to measure self-efficacy for social participation among community-dwelling independent older adults. Therefore, we developed the "Self-efficacy for Social Participation" scale (SOSA) to assess the self-efficacy of community-dwelling independent older adults, and examined the scale's reliability and validity. METHODS We distributed a self-administered mail survey to approximately 5,000 randomly selected independent older adults throughout Japan. The construct validity of the SOSA was determined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Criterion-related validity was assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and according to subjective health status. RESULTS In total, 1,336 older adults responded to the survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified 12 items distributed among four factors: instrumental self-efficacy, managerial self-efficacy, interpersonal self-efficacy and cultural self-efficacy. The final model had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.90, goodness-of-fit index of 0.948, adjusted goodness-of-fit index of 0.915, comparative fit index of 0.952, and root mean square error of approximation of 0.078. Significant correlations existed between the SOSA score and GSES (r = 0.550, p < 0.01) and subjective health status (r = 0.384, p < 0.01) scores. CONCLUSIONS The SOSA showed sufficient reliability and validity to assess self-efficacy for social participation among older adults. This scale could aid efforts to improve the physical and mental health, and longevity, of older adults through increased behavioralizing social participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanami Oe
- Department of Community and Public Health Nursing, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, N12-W5, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Etsuko Tadaka
- Department of Community and Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, N12-W5, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan.
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Asiamah N, Agyemang SM, Vieira ER, Khan HTA, Gasana J. Sedentary behaviour among older adults residing in flat and hilly neighbourhoods and its association with frailty and chronic disease status. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2083. [PMID: 37875861 PMCID: PMC10599026 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17029-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Living in hilly neighbourhoods can be associated with sedentary behaviour, but no study has compared sedentary behaviour and its associations with frailty, chronic diseases, and poor health between flat and hilly neighbourhoods among older adults. This study, therefore, compared older adults' sedentary behaviour and its association with frailty, poor health, and chronic disease status between low and hilly neighbourhoods. METHODS This study utilised a STROBE-compliant cross-sectional design with sensitivity analyses and a common methods bias assessment. The participants were 1,209 people aged 50+ years who resided in flat (Ablekuma North, n = 704) and hilly (Kwahu East, n = 505) neighbourhoods in Ghana. The data were analysed with the independent samples t-test and hierarchical linear regression. RESULTS Older adults in the hilly neighbourhood were more sedentary than those in the flat neighbourhood. The association between sedentary behaviour and chronic disease status was significant in both neighbourhoods, but this relationship was stronger in the hilly neighbourhood. Older adults in the flat neighbourhood reported lower sedentary behaviour at higher frailty (β = -0.18; t = -3.2, p < 0.001), but those in the hilly neighbourhood reported higher sedentary behaviour at higher frailty (β = 0.16; t = 3.54, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Older adults living in the hilly neighbourhood reported higher sedentary behaviour. In the hilly neighbourhood, sedentary behaviour was more strongly associated with frailty and chronic disease status. Older adults in hilly neighbourhoods may need extra support to avoid sedentary behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor Asiamah
- School of Health and Social Care, Division of Interdisciplinary Research and Practice, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, UK.
| | - Simon Mawulorm Agyemang
- Department of Science/Health, Physical Education and Sports, Abetifi Presbyterian College of Education, P.O. Box 19, Abetifi - Kwahu, E/R, Ghana
| | - Edgar Ramos Vieira
- Department of Physical Therapy, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Hafiz T A Khan
- College of Nursing, Midwifery, and Healthcare, University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, TW8 9GB, UK
| | - Janvier Gasana
- Department of Community Health, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
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Asiamah N, Agyemang SM, Yarfi C, Jnr RAM, Muhonja F, Khan HTA, Kouveliotis K, Sghaier S. Associations of Social Networks with Physical Activity Enjoyment among Older Adults: Walkability as a Modifier through a STROBE-Compliant Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3341. [PMID: 36834040 PMCID: PMC9967423 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The available evidence suggests that social networks can contribute to physical activity (PA) enjoyment, which is necessary for the maintenance of PA over the life course. This study assessed the associations of active and sedentary social networks with PA enjoyment and ascertained whether walkability moderates or modifies these associations. A cross-sectional design compliant with STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) was employed. The participants were 996 community-dwelling older Ghanaians aged 50 years or older. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to analyse the data. After adjusting for age and income, the study found that the active social network size (β = 0.09; p < 0.05) and sedentary social network size (β = 0.17; p < 0.001) were positively associated with PA enjoyment. These associations were strengthened by walkability. It is concluded that active and sedentary social networks may better support PA enjoyment in more walkable neighbourhoods. Therefore, enabling older adults to retain social networks and live in more walkable neighbourhoods may be an effective way to improve their PA enjoyment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor Asiamah
- Division of Interdisciplinary Research and Practice, School of Health and Social Care, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Africa Centre for Epidemiology, Accra North P.O. Box AN 18462, Ghana
| | - Simon Mawulorm Agyemang
- Department of Science/Health, Physical Education and Sports, Abetifi Presbyterian College of Education, Abetifi-Kwahu P.O. Box 19, Ghana
| | - Cosmos Yarfi
- Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho PMB 31, Ghana
| | - Reginald Arthur-Mensah Jnr
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences, Pentecost University, Accra P.O. Box KN 1739, Ghana
| | - Faith Muhonja
- Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, Amref International University, Nairobi P.O. Box 27691-00506, Kenya
| | - Hafiz T. A. Khan
- College of Nursing, Midwifery, and Healthcare, University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford TW8 9GB, UK
| | - Kyriakos Kouveliotis
- Berlin School of Business and Innovation, Academic Affairs, 97-99 Karl Marx Strasse, 12043 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarra Sghaier
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Africa Centre for Epidemiology, Accra North P.O. Box AN 18462, Ghana
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Danquah E, Asiamah N. Associations between physical work environment, workplace support for health, and presenteeism: a COVID-19 context. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2022; 95:1807-1816. [PMID: 35570224 PMCID: PMC9108018 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-022-01877-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Objective Presenteeism has, in a larger sense, been viewed as a negative behaviour, although a limited body of studies suggests and reports its positive implications in an organizational context. This study assessed the association between the physical work environment (PWE) and presenteeism as well as the moderating influence of workplace support for health (WSH) on this relationship. Methods This study adopted the cross-sectional design alongside a sensitivity analysis and techniques against common methods bias. The study population was employees of private and public organizations in Accra, Ghana. A total of 590 employees participated in the study and hierarchical linear regression was used to present the results. Results PWE had a positive relationship with presenteeism (β = 0.15; t = 3.04; p < 0.05), which means that higher presenteeism was associated with larger PWE scores. WSH positively moderated the relationship between PWE and presenteeism (β = 0.23; t = 4.84; p < 0.001). Conclusions Organizations with more satisfactory work environments may serve as preferred protective places for employees during a pandemic, more so within organizations with higher WSH. Interventions rolled out to improve PWE and to provide WSH can attenuate the potential negative influences of presenteeism on individual health and organizational productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emelia Danquah
- Department of Procurement and Supply Science, Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua, Eastern Region Ghana
- Department of Health Promotion, Africa Centre for Epidemiology, P. O. Box AN 16284, Accra Ghana, Accra North, Ghana
| | - Nestor Asiamah
- Division of Interdisciplinary Research and Practice, School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ UK
- Department of Health Promotion, Africa Centre for Epidemiology, P. O. Box AN 16284, Accra Ghana, Accra North, Ghana
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Asiamah N, Vieira ER, Kouveliotis K, Gasana J, Awuviry-Newton K, Eduafo R. Associations between older African academics' physical activity, walkability and mental health: a social distancing perspective. Health Promot Int 2021; 37:6372832. [PMID: 34543431 PMCID: PMC8500010 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the moderating influence of neighborhood walkability on the association between physical activity (PA) and mental health among older African academics aged 50 years or more in cities with social distancing protocols in response to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 905 volunteer academics participated in the study. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was employed to conduct sensitivity analyses and test the study hypotheses. After controlling for sex, education and age, there was a positive association between PA and mental health. Neighborhood walkability moderated the relationship between PA and mental health, which suggests that during the pandemic PA was associated with higher mental health scores in more walkable neighborhoods. The study concludes that PA was beneficial to mental health in the social distancing context and was associated with higher mental health in more walkable neighborhoods, particularly in a social distancing context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor Asiamah
- School of Health and Care Professions, University of Portsmouth, Winston Churchill Ave, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
| | - Edgar Ramos Vieira
- Department of Physical Therapy, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Florida International University, USA
| | - Kyriakos Kouveliotis
- Department of Health Management, Berlin School of Business and Innovation, Berlin, Germany
| | - Janvier Gasana
- Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Kuwait University, Kuwait
| | - Kofi Awuviry-Newton
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, Priority Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Australia
| | - Richard Eduafo
- Africa Centre for Epidemiology, Gerontology and Geriatric Care, Accra North, Ghana
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Asiamah N, Opuni FF, Muhonja F, Danquah E, Agyemang SM, Agyemang I, Omisore A, Mensah HK, Hatsu S, Baffoe RS, Eku E, Manu CA. The relationship between job components, neighbourhood walkability and African academics' physical activity: a post-COVID-19 context. Health Promot Int 2021; 37:6323905. [PMID: 34279619 PMCID: PMC8411380 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Research to date suggests that physical activity (PA) among academics is insufficient globally. Academics in many African countries were recently required to resume work while observing social distancing protocols. Physical inactivity (PI) was, therefore, expected to increase in such academics. Interestingly, walkable neighbourhoods are resources that could discourage excessive sitting and PI in this situation. This study, therefore, assessed the moderating role of neighbourhood walkability in the relationship between core job components (i.e. on-site teaching, online teaching, research and student assessment) and PA among academics. The study adopted a cross-sectional design that utilized an online survey hosted by Google Forms to gather data. Participants were volunteer full-time academics in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. A total of 1064 surveys were analysed, with a sensitivity analysis utilized to select covariates for the ultimate hierarchical linear regression model. After controlling for the ultimate covariates (e.g. gender, education and income), PA was found to be positively associated with the job component 'research work' but negatively associated with student assessment. Neighbourhood walkability increased the positive relationship of research work with PA and reduced the negative relationship of student assessment with PA. The non-significant negative relationship between 'teaching online' and PA was made positively significant by neighbourhood walkability. We conclude that research as a job component is positively associated with PA, but online teaching is negatively associated with PA among African academics in a post-COVID-19 context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor Asiamah
- University of Portsmouth, School of Health and Care Professions, Winston Churchill Ave, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK.,Africa Centre for Epidemiology, Accra Ghana, P. O. Box AN 16284, Accra North, Ghana
| | | | - Faith Muhonja
- School of Public Health, Mount Kenya University, Kenya
| | - Emelia Danquah
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua, Ghana
| | - Simon Mawulorm Agyemang
- Department of Physical Education and Health, Abetifi Presbyterian College of Education, Ghana
| | - Irene Agyemang
- Student Affairs, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, Accra, Ghana
| | - Akinlolu Omisore
- Department of Community Medicine, Osun State University, Nigeria
| | - Henry Kofi Mensah
- Human Resources and Organizational Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sylvester Hatsu
- Department of Computer Science, Accra Technical University, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Eric Eku
- Department of Behavioural Epidemiology, University of Education, Winneba, Institute for Distance Education and E-learning, Winneba, Ghana
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