[Analyzing the differences in positive thinking between the healthy elderly and the elderly with long-term care risk]

Objectives　In forthcoming preventive care, it is important to perceive that the health of the elderly is multifaceted. The purpose of the research is to analyze the difference in positive thinking between the elderly with long-term care risk and the healthy elderly, to clarify the relationship between long-term care risk and positive thinking.Methods　A postal mail survey, based on a self-administered questionnaire, was conducted in City A. The subject were elderly people who were turning 75 years old in 2016, 593 people. There were 319 valid responses included in the analysis, of which 141 responses were from the previous survey (a factual survey performed in City A from August 2015 to January 2016) and 178 responses were from the late survey (in July 2016). The subjects included in the analysis were divided into the long-term care risk and the healthy group, and the component scores on positive thinking were compared to determine the relationship between positive thinking and long-term care risk. For the comparison of two groups, we used a t-test for normally distributed scales, the Mann-Whitney U test for deviated scales, and the χ² test for the comparison of dispersed variants. Discriminant analysis was performed to evaluate the degree of each component of positive thinking in long-term care risk. The significance levels of all tests were set at less than 5%.Results　The components of positive thinking that demonstrated significant differences in the comparison between two groups were: Life Satisfaction Index K, PGC Morale Scale, Lubben Social Network Scale, social participation (Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence to Assess Functional Capacity), self-negative beliefs (Japanese version of the Brief Core Schema Scale), and State Self-esteem Scale. Based on the discriminant analysis, variables mainly related to long-term care risk were self-negative beliefs, life satisfaction level, and self-preservation (Identity Scale). In addition, all components of positive thinking, excluding negative beliefs about others, were related to "depressive tendencies."Conclusion　Elderly people with long-term care risk tended to perceive themselves negatively; they lacked social relationships, and had low life satisfaction levels, morale, as well as self-esteem. It was suggested that "negative beliefs about the self" and "Life Satisfaction Index K" were important factors. It is necessary to reconsider the components of positive thinking and clarify its relationship with long-term care risk.