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Sekentei as a Socio-Cultural Determinant of Cognitive Function among Older Japanese People: Findings from the NEIGE Study

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Sekentei (social appearance) is a Japanese concept that describes a person’s sense of implicit societal pressure to conform to social norms. However, evidence of a relationship between sekentei and health outcomes is sparse. This study examined the association between sekentei and cognitive function among community-dwelling older Japanese people. Baseline data were obtained from the Neuron to Environmental Impact across Generations (NEIGE) study conducted in 2017; 526 randomly sampled community-dwelling individuals aged 65–84 years living in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan were analyzed. The 12-item Sekentei Scale was used to assess sekentei. Cognitive function levels were evaluated with the Japanese version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-J; ranging from 0–30). Approximately 10% and 25% had cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment, respectively (MMSE-J scores of ≤23 and 24–26, respectively). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that both high and low levels of sekentei were associated with lower cognitive function, particularly mild cognitive impairment, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, health conditions, and genetic factors. The current findings suggest that a moderate level of sekentei consciousness is beneficial for cognitive health, and that sekentei could be an important socio-cultural factor affecting cognitive function.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124480

Authors: Hiroshi Murayama, Shigeru Inoue, Takeo Fujiwara, Naoki Fukui, Yuichi Yokoyama, Yugo Shobugawa

Institutions: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Niigata University

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,429