The Sel岱Concept in砒le Elderly in Relation to the Subjective Hea畳th Status
Reiko UEDA＊and Tomoko NAKAMuRA＊＊
（Received October 18，1993）
Abstmct
The self−concept of 67 subjects who were over 65 years of age was investigated in relation to sex， family type and subjective health status． Results：（1）There was significant difference in specific self−concept domains in women between those living with spouses and those without，and between different family types． There was no difference in men s se韮f−concept domains in relation to family types．（2）Significant differences were found in specific self−concept domains between good health group and the others． The average scores in 30ut of 12 self−concept domains of women
（self−worth， nurtロe， appearance）were hig葺er in good health group than the others while those in 50ut of l2 domains of men（self−worth， athletic ability， appearance，
house−management， humor）were significantly higher in good health group thall the others． These results may suggest that the specific self−concept domains could be used in identifying and intervening for risk people in old age．
According to the 1985 s census report by the Institute of Population Survey，Ministry of Health and WeIfare of Japan， the average life span of Japanese is getting longer and life expectancy fbr Japanese men and women will readh 76．81 and 82．69 years of age respectively by the year 20001）． While it is almost in6vitable to face the biological diseases and physical handicaps in the old age， the loss of income due to retirement will also trigger economic and consequent problems． Especially in Japan， the coUapse of traditional ie ， or門House system and the growing power of individualism in general has influenced the elderly people who live together with younger generations and often experience conflicts even in cases of economic independence． These socico−psychological conditions in elderly people may cause a（噸ustment problems and／or chronic unhealthy conditions in their daily life．
However， a health beliefs such as the sound mental health controls physical health 2）。
suggest another health model in that people having a clear self−concept and sens of self−worth may better control their own daily life and hence keep better physical health． The self−concept may be defiend as a systematic， consistent and integrated belief pattern of oneself which includes self−esteem and a positive self−image 3）． The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the health status and the self」concept which supports adaptation to daily life in elderly peoPle．
＊Human Development， Department of Home Ecomomics， Faculty of Education， Ibaraki University， Mito，
Ibaraki 310 Japan
＊＊Laboratory of Health Science Education， Faculty of Education， Ibaraki University， Mito， Ibaraki 310
114 Bull． Fac． Educ．， Ibaraki Univ．（Hum．＆Soc．Sci）43（1994）
1。Su煽ects and Method
Subjects were senior citizens of 65 and more of age who participated in a health counseling class， physical exercise class and senior citizen club in M city， Chiba prefecture from 1989 to 1990． Sixty−seven su切ects were given a stnlctured interview with the questionnaires which consisted of three parts：（1）items related to family type， health status，age and working type．（2）
trables and problems and（3）50 self−perception items． The original measure of the self一 perception was constructed by Susan Harter5）（Harter，1988）to assess the developing and changing self−concept from a lifb−span perspective． This measure which contains 12 domains was translated by R．Ueda into Japanese． Each of the content domains has four items as subscales，
while the self−worth scale has six items， the total being 50 items（See Table 1）． Twelve domains are sel倉worth， sociabilityjob competence，nurturance，athletic ability， physical appearance， ade一 quacy as a provider， morality， household management， intimate relationships， intelligence and sense of humor．
Table l Twelve Domains of the Adult Self−Concept Scale
Domains Number of Subscales
Self。Worth 6
Sociability 4
Job Competence 4
Nuπturance 4
Athletic Ability 4
Physical Appearance 4
Adequacy as a Provider 4
Morality 4
Household Management 4
Intimate Relationships 4
Intelligence 4
Sense of Humor 4
Tota藍 50
The scoring method of the Japanese version of the measure of the self−perception was the same as the original in which each item is scored from l to 4， where a score of l indicates low competence and a score of 4 renects high competence． Analyzing the self≒perception measure，the total score and the 12 domain scores were calculated and used respectively．
2． Results
（1）Background of Subjects
Table 2 indicates percentages of spouses of 67 sψjects by sex． Fourty−two percent of woman have no spouse， while only 6．5％of men were single and／or widower（See Table 2）。
Table 2 Sex and Marriage Status of the Subjects
Sex Female Male Total SPouse ％ No． ％ No． ％ No．
＋ 58．3 21 93．5 29 74．6 50
一 41．7 15 6．5 2 25．4 17
Total 100，0 36 100．0 31 100．0 67
Also， table 3 shows current working types of the su切ects． Only 5．6 percent of women and 29％of men worked outside of the home， though 94．4％of宙omen and O％of men were homemakers，
Table 3 0ccupation of the Subjects
Sex Female Male Tota1 Spouse ％ No． ％ No． ％ No．
Ful1−time Worker O O 19．4 6 19．4 6 Part−time Worker 2．8 1 3．2 1 3．0 2
Retailer O O 3．2 1 1．5 1
Farmer 2．8 1 3，2 1 3．0 2 Home Maker 94．4 34 0 0 50．7 34 None O O 71．0 22 32．8 22 Total lOO．0 36 100．0 31 100．0 67
Table 4 indicates family types of su司ects（See Table 4）． Sevellty−two percent of women and 68％of men lived in nuclear families．
Table 4 Family Types of the Su切ects
Sex Female Male
Spouse ％ No． ％ No．
Nuclear Family 72．2 26 67．7 21 Extended Fami璽y 27．8 10 32．3 10 Total 100．0 36 100．0 31
116 Bul1． Fac． Educ．， Ibaraki Univ．（Hum．＆Soc．Sci）43（1994）
Table 5 Show、the present health status of s呵ects． Most of the subjects felt healthy but 16．7
％of women and 12．9％of men were in poor health and／or unclear about it．
Table 5 Health Status of the Subjects
Sex Female Male Tota1 Health ％ No． ％ No． ％ No．
We11 83．3 30 87ユ 27 85．1 57
Poo1・ 11．1 4 9．7 3 10．4 7
Unknown 5．6 2 3．2 1 4．5 3
Tota1 100．0 36 100．0 31 100．0 67
（2）Self・Perception of the Suhl ects
Figure l shows comparison of the average score of 12 domains in the self−perception measurement between the group with（＋）spouse and the group without（一）spouse in women．
There were significant diffbrences in飾e domains between these two groups． The score of the single or widow group was sigrlif韮cantly higher in such domains as self−worth， job competence，
physical appearance， intimate relationships and intelligence than that of the married group．
Spouse （＋） Domains Spouse （一）
4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 i i ｝
i i
堰@ i Self−Worth＊
i i
堰@ ： 1 ； i
Sociability l i
… … i Job Competence＊＊
… i ｛ ： ： 1
i i Nurturance
i i l i i i
i i Athletic Abi童ity
i i ：
i … 1
i i
堰@ i Physical ApPearance＊＊
i i … ：
F
i i Adequacy as a Provider
i i l 堰@
i ii i i
…
Morality ； i堰@ i
i i ： i
Household Management
i i ：
Intimate Relationships＊＊
i i
Intelligence＊＊i i ，
i i …
堰@ i Sense of Humor i i堰@ i
i i i … i i
＊pく0．05 ＊＊p＜0．005
Fig．1 Marriage Status and the Twelve Domains 一Female一
In relation to work type馬significant difference was found in only one domain such as appearance by comparison between working group and non−working group． The average score of an appearance domain in the working group was significantly higher than that in the non−working group（See， Fig．2）
Occupation （＋） Domains Occupation（一）
4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4
i i … i
Self−Worth
… … i
Sociability Job Competence
i ： i ： i i
i ・
i Nurturance i
i il l
Athletic Ability
l l i i i： i
… ｝ Physical Appearance＊ i …
｝ i … 、 i …
Adequacy as a Provider
； i
Morality
・ i ・ … i
Household Management
i ii l l
i i
Intlmate Relationships i
… … i i i
i … i IntelligenCe i … … i il i
； i
c Sense of Humor
i … … i
＊P〈0，01，
Fig．2 0ccupations and the Twelve Domains
一Female＆male一
Figure 3 shows the relationships between family types and self」perception scores． The average scores in 2 domains such as job competence and intelligence were significantly higher in the nuclear family group than that in the extended family in the fbmale subjects． Howeveろthere was no difference between two different family types in the male subjects． Finally， Figure 4 indicates the comparison between the healthy group and the other group． In the female sub一 ject亀there was significant diffbrence in 30ut of 12 domains such as self−worth， nurturance and appearance． The average scores of these three domains in healthy women were significantly higher than that of the resL On the other han4 significant differences were fbund in 50ut of 12 domains in male su切ects， The average scores in 5 domains such as self−wort玩athletic ability，
physical appearanc馬household management and sense of humor were significantly higher in healthy men than those in the rest．
118 Bu1L Fac． Educ。， Ibaraki Univ．（Hum．＆Soc．Sci）43（1994）
Female Male 、 Domains4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4
一 l i iユ i i i
i
c Self−Worth 9 i
@ …
i … … … … ｝
i i
Sociability
i … …
堰@・… Job Competence
… … i
@ i i i i
堰@ i ： 堰@ ｝
堰@ i Nurturance
i i i： ： i
@ i
i i i i i i
i ｝ 冒
堰@ ； Athletic Abi蓋ity l i
@ l i i i
堰@ i i
i ii i i
： 堰@ i
堰@ i Physical ApPearance
： i i
@ i i i i
堰@ l i 、 ：
堰@ …
Adequacy as a Provider @ i
i … … … … i
i i Morality
i i i
Household Management
i ｝ i： i i
@ l i
@ …
i l i i i i
i
i Intimate Relationships
i … … … … i
i i，＊ ：
@ … Intelligence
； i i …
i ｝ …i ii i
Sense of Humor
… … i i i
i ｝ … … i i
■■■■■Nuclear family ＊pく0．05＊＊pく0．Ol ZZZ杢】Extended Family
Fig．3 Family Types and the Twelve Domains
Female Male Domains4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4
i i i 堰@ 酢 堰@＊‡…i i i
堰@ li ； ii ・ ・
堰@… …nai ； ：i ・・…i i i
Self−Worth rociability
iob Competence murturance
i i i
@ i
@ 、 i＊＊i …
@ 、 ｝ ina… l i ： ： i … i i i i
l i 堰@ i 堰@ i 堰@ i i
Athletic Ability i i
@ ＊ i ii i ii i i
：
@ i i
Physical ApPearance
̀dequacy as a Provider lorality
gousehold Management hntimate Relationships
： i l
@ 滋 i
@ i i ii i i …
c i i 、・・ ii i i． ： i… … i
i i ： 堰@ i 堰@ i
堰@ i ii i
堰@i …
Inte晃ligence
rense of Humor ρ
： i i i lna i i i
堰Eii
一Well Health ＊p＜o．05＊＊p〈o．ol 盟Others Na；None
Fig．4 Health Status and the Twelve Domains
3． 1）iscussion
Development of the self−concept and self−indentification have been treated as the main theme in the adolescence4）． However there has been resurgence of interest in the self． And empirical evidence on the similarities and differences of the self−concopt at a given developmental stage across the life span has been explored by Susan， Harter etc5）．
We have explored self−concept measures by SHalter et al． fbr Japanese women college students 6）（lkeda and Ueda，1990）， Japanese adults 7）（Ueda and Ozawa，1990）and fbund that lhe self−perception measures were useful in Japanese people to identify the people having risks related to health． The present study of the self−perception on the elderly person was investigated in relation to their life style and health・
（1）The specific self−per㏄ption domains and general background of subj ects．
Ninty−fbur percent of men and 58．5％women had spouses ih this study． These percentages w・・ehigh・・th・n th・t・f 36．6％・f w・m・n・nd 82・0％m・n・f・v・・ag・・p・u・e・ati・in p・・pl・・f 65・nd m・・e yea・s in 1985・・ti・n・1・・n・u・． But th・・ati・・f 27・8％w・m・n・nd 3212％m㎝・f extended families in this study were lower than that of 68．9％women and 58．5％of men in P，・pl・・f 65・nd m・・e yea・s in th・1985 Mi・i・t・y・f Health・nd W・lf・・e Admi・i・t・ativ・Suw・y8）
．Eighty−th・・e p・・cent・f w・m・n・nd 87％・f m・n w・・e in g・・d health・nd th・p・・cent・g・・f th・
healthy・ubject・w・・high・・than th・t・f・v・・ag・61・5％w・m・n and 65・4％m・n・f healthy and／or normal condition in people of 65 and more years at 1984 s Geriatric Survey of this country． Therefore， the result of the self−perception in the present study is not typical model of P・・pl・・f 65・nd m・・e yea・s in J・p・n， but d・m・n・t・at・・th・・el・ti・n・hip b・柳een th・・peci五・
domains of the selFperception and health condition at the given individuals．
In women sublects，the selfperception score of widows or singles were higher than that of
o ．
高≠窒窒奄?п@ones in 5 domains such as self−worth， job competence， physical appearance， lntlmate relationships and intelligence． The widows or single women seem to have more sense of self−worth as a person，more satisfied with their job competence and physical apPearance and also seemed to believe more that they had competence of making intimate relationships with others and were more intelligent These results could not compare with those of the widowers or single men，because there were few widowers in the present study． However， whether these results age−related characteristics or aquired ones after the husbands diseased needs to be investigated in future． Because， single Japanese women of this generation suffered the World War l l during th・i・y・uth・nd y・ung・dulth・・d and th・y might h・ve・peci・1・el卜P・・cepti・n in g・n・・aP）・Thi・
phenomenon should be studied by cohort method．
Concerning family types，women in the neuclear families were higher in two domains such as job competence and intelligence than those in extended families． This result may suggest that women with higher job competence as well as intelligence chose to live in nuclear families rather than extended families or may suggest that elderly person in extended family have more dependency needs than those in the nuclear f包mily．
（2）Health status and specific domains of self−perception．
In a healthy group of senior women， the scores of three domains of self−perception such as self−worth， nurturance and physical appearance were higher than those in the other group． The healthy women had the tendency to accept themselves as they were， being interested in caring and nurturing others and liked their physical appearance more than those in unhealthy women．
120 B・IL Fac・Ed・・．， lb・・aki U・i・．（H・m．＆S・・．S・i）43（1994）
However， the sex diffbrence in domains was fbund in the result of the healthy group of the senior men． In the healthy men group， the average scores of athletic ability， household management，
humor as well as selFworth and physical appearance were higher than those in the other group．
However， here is a question whether being physically healthy has influenced on the specific self−collcept domains or having such specific self−concept has influenced to keep hysical health．
This question can not be answered from this study． Neverthless， it is clear that there is a relationship between self−perception of elderly person and health condition． These results may suggest that the speci負c sel卜concept domains could be uesd in identifying and intervening for risk people in old age．
Ack・・w1・dg・m・・t・：Th・a・th・・exp・esses h・・apP・eci・ti・n t・M・．K．H・・eg・w・wh・P・・ti・ip・t・d i。 th， d、t、
collection for this study．
This paper was presented at the l993 World Congress of the World Federation for Mental Heahh， in Makuhari， Japan， August 23−27，1993．
Notes
1）Calen， C．H．：Economic status of elderly women， Ozawa， M．N， Kimura， S．and Ibe， H．ed，ム乖一cyc ε｛ガ 凧）〃2επ，Univ． of Tokoy Press， Tokyo，1989197−322．
2）Iwai， H．and Amamoto， H．：Creativity in elderly people， Hasegawa， K． Nasu， S． ed．σεアoπ∫0108y， Iwasaki Academic Press，1975．
3）Clarke−Steward， A．， Perlmutter， M． and Friedman，S，：L㌍一Zoπ8 H加脚ηDθvθ勿〃2ε雇， John Wiley＆
Sons， N．Y．1988570．
4）Hann， N．：Adolescents and young adu豊ts as producers of their development， Lerner， R．M． and Busch一 Rossnage1， N。A．edJη4ごv 4照Z5α3 Pro伽ceア∫（ガ艶ε 7 Dεvε （辺祝eη∫， Academic Press，1981155−180．
5）Harter， S．：Causes， correlates and the functional lole of g聖obal self−worth：Alife−span perspective，
Kolligian， J． and Sternberg， R．ed． Pε7α￥）∫∫oπ∫6ゾCαηραεηcεαη4 Zηco〃甲θ∫θ〃c8αcro∬∫んε、乙腔。5ρ伽，
New Haven，Yale University Press，1988．
6）Ikeda，N． and Ueda，R．：Self−porception of women college students and somatic complains，」4ραπε∫ε∫（ガ ルfα∫εrηα1Hθα1緬，33，2，1992，215−219．
7）U・d・・R・・nd Ozaw・・M・・L・ngit・dina1・t・dy・n f・th・・ ・p・・ti・ip・ti・n t・・hildbi・th・nd it・meani・g f・・
family development，」4ραηθ∫e Z（ガMα∫ε7παJ Hε復娩，31，1，1990，29−33．
8）Sodei，T．：Women and care of elderly people，Op．cit，Ozawa， M．N，et a1．1989，132−133．
9）Morioka， K。 and Aoi， K． ed。ム㌍Co麗r∫8 Pαπθr〃5（ガ．Mご441θ一！霊8ε4 Mεη加Coη∫ε即orωッ」4ραη：The Shi zuoka Case， Japan Society for the Promotion of Science，1991．
