Mental and physical factors influencing self-rated health in Japanese older adults

Abstract

Background: Self-rated health (SRH) is a widely used global indicator of physical, psychological, and social well-being. In older adults, SRH predicts mortality, morbidity, and functional decline. Although SRH has been linked to psychological, functional, and lifestyle factors, these domains are often examined separately, limiting our understanding of their combined influence. This study examined the multidimensional structure of SRH by assessing mental health, physical function, and activity-related factors among Japanese community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1,821 older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) in Ayase City, Japan. SRH was assessed using a four-point scale and categorized into high (very/somewhat healthy) and low (not very/unhealthy) groups. Independent variables included age, gender, education, diagnosed conditions, depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS), physical fitness (Motor Fitness Scale, MFS), functional capacity (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, TMIG-IC IADL), and activity frequency. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with SRH. Results: Participants with higher SRH were younger (median age: 74 vs. 77 years, p