The Effect of High and Low Life Purpose on Ikigai (a Meaning for Life) among Community-Dwelling Older People-A Cross-Sectional Study.

The purpose of this study is to reveal how high or low life purpose is related to QOL and ikigai (a meaning for life). Ikigai is "a sense of purpose and motivation in the daily lives of older people, a sense that they are capable and meaningful to their families and others, and that they should be". Eighty-one community-dwelling older people (23 male and 58 female, mean age 77 ± 5.2 years) participated of their own will. The following items were measured: dementia test, exercise habits, life purpose, ikigai, and QOL. In the multivariate analysis of high and low life purpose, only ikigai was found to be related. In the multivariate analysis of ikigai, life purpose was also the most relevant, indicating that life purpose and ikigai are strongly interrelated. To improve QOL, it is also necessary to take into account life purpose in addition to the current nursing care prevention.