The Impact of Occupational Participation in Hobby Activities on Social Frailty

Social frailty (SF) involves reduced social participation, roles, and support, and it is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the relationship between SF and occupational participation, particularly hobbies, remains underexplored. We examined the association between SF and occupational participation, particularly hobbies, among older adults. A cross-sectional survey of 1,000 older adults in Japan (mean age: 74.08 ± 5.48 years) was conducted online. Participants were classified as robust, pre-SF (PSF), or SF using Makizako's five-item criteria. Occupational participation was assessed using the Self-Completed Occupational Performance Index. Hobby categories and their frequencies were also recorded. Occupational participation was lower in SF than in PSF and robust. Participation in productive activities was negatively associated with PSF and SF, while leisure activities and cultural and artistic hobbies were negatively associated with SF. Occupational therapy should emphasize occupational participation and hobby engagement to help older adults cope with social frailty.