This study identified an association between the utilization of senior centers and participation in health check-ups. Individuals utilizing senior centers exhibited a higher inclination of participating in health check-ups compared with those who did not utilize these facilities. This finding, controlling for family interaction, suggests that interactions among peers excluding family members, might influence participation in health check-ups among older adults. Moreover, there was a progressive increase in the likelihood of participating in health check-ups as the frequency of utilizing senior centers increased. Compared to those who do not utilize senior centers, among center users, individuals living alone exhibited a higher odds of participating in health check-ups, followed by those with families. This underscores the potential association between social relationships and participation in health check-ups.
It well-established that social relationships play various positive roles in the lives of older adults, encompassing health and more.(29) Previous studies have emphasized the significant role of social networks in promoting various health-related behaviors and facilitating health check-ups.(30, 31) Other research has demonstrated that seniors with close family relationships and active engagement in social activities are more likely to undergo regular health check-ups.(25) The greater the social support from family, friends, and others, the stronger the association with participation in health check-ups.(32) Furthermore, it has been noted that this association extends not only to health check-ups but also to preventive health behaviors such as vaccinations.(33) Earlier studies have suggested that men are more influenced by these factors compared with women.(25) This current study, consistent with prior research, found that men are indeed more influenced than women. Additionally, it demonstrated that participants engaging in social activities, such as utilizing senior centers, were more likely to participate in health check-ups than those who did not. However, unlike previous studies, this research focused on interactions with peers through the utilization of senior centers, controlling for interactions with family and relatives. Moreover, the analysis of the relationship between usage frequency and participation in health check-ups indicated a correlation between increased social activity and a higher likelihood of participating in health check-ups.
According to Andersen’s healthcare utilization model, healthcare utilization is influenced by four elements: environmental, demographic characteristics, health behavior, and health outcomes.(16) From a psychological perspective, social isolation in old age is considered a potential obstacle to participation in health programs.(15, 34) Socially isolated individuals often place lower value on health compared with their non-isolated counterparts.(35) This diminished valuation of health acts as a deterrent to engaging in health management behaviors.(35) Socialization and social support serve as motivational factors for older adults to consistently engage in health behaviors.(36) Previous research has highlighted that, while individuals recognize the importance of improving health through health behaviors, they might naturally engage in health-promoting activities as part of their involvement in social activities.(36) Among older adults, self-efficacy promotes health-seeking behaviors and becomes a predictive concept for actions such as health check-ups.(37) Older adults with higher self-efficacy are more likely to utilize preventive medical care and undergo health check-ups compared with those with lower self-efficacy.(38) Additionally, friendship interactions among older adults exhibit a positive correlation with self-efficacy.(39)
This study has several limitations. First, it is a cross-sectional study, which hinders the determination of causality between factors, making it challenging to evaluate the sequence of events leading to outcomes. Second, the reliance on self-reported survey methods might compromise the reliability of the results. Third, despite attempts to control for covariates that may influence the dependent variable, uncontrolled confounding variables might have impacted the results.
However, this study also possesses several strengths. First, the data utilized in the study targeted the national population, enhancing its representativeness. Second, conducting face-to-face interviews by trained professionals could enhance the reliability and validity of survey responses.