Introduction

To investigate the effect of social inclusion on the prevention of isolation and loneliness, we developed a simple screening tool to evaluate social isolation and loneliness, conducted an interview-format questionnaire survey in the Station Marche (open-air market on the station square), and examined the effectiveness of the Station Marche as a social prescription.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a total of four questionnaire surveys from August 2019 to December 2019 in the Station Marche in Fukusaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. We gave our surveys to 406 visitors and analysed the responses of 197 residents of Fukusaki that were selected from all survey respondents. By combining the Japanese version of the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale and the Japanese version of the University of California, Los Angeles’ Loneliness Scale, we developed new indicators to evaluate social isolation and loneliness. In addition to the questions about isolation and loneliness in our questionnaire surveys, we asked about involvement in the Station Marche and interests in living services and community activities. We performed a non-parametric test for each questionnaire item, conducted a multiple comparison procedure of the questionnaire items for which statistically significant differences were found, and compared the effect sizes.

Results

First, the frequency of visits to the Fukusaki station area according to the isolation and loneliness status was placed in the following descending order: the non-isolated and non-lonely type, the isolated and lonely type, the non-isolated and lonely type, and the isolated and non-lonely type. A Kruskal-Wallis test confirmed that there were statistically significant differences between the isolated and lonely types in terms of the frequency of visits to the station (𝑝 = 0.001). The multiple comparison procedure showed that the frequency of visits to the station for the isolated and non-lonely type was significantly lower than that for the non-isolated and non-lonely type (𝑝 = 0.002), and the effect size was moderate (𝑟 = 0.27 [0.09, 0.44]). Second, for interests in living services according to the isolation and loneliness status, the Kruskal-Wallis test confirmed that there were statistically significant differences between the isolated and lonely types in terms of the rental office service (𝑝 = 0.012). The multiple comparison procedure showed that interest in the rental office service by the isolated and lonely type was significantly higher than that by the non-isolated and non-lonely type (𝑝 = 0.011), and the effect size was moderate (𝑟 = 0.41 [0.20, 0.58]).

Discussion

The results of this study were as follows. First, including the isolated and lonely people who do not usually visit the station, the Station Marche was a place that any type of isolated and lonely person could visit often. Second, regarding interests in living services, since the isolated and lonely people were more interested in a rental office service than the non-isolated and lonely people, there was a statistically significant difference between the loneliness types with different levels of social isolation. We believe that our results make a significant contribution to show the effectiveness of the Station Marche as a social prescription for isolated and lonely people.