Facilitating Factors for Implementing Multigenerational Exchanges in Regional Locations: A Cross-sectional Study in Niigata City, Japan

Abstract Background: In the process of community building, it is important to create a place for multigenerational exchanges. To consider the promotion of multigenerational exchanges in regional locations, it is important to clarify whether operational systems, regional characteristics, and social capital are related to the implementation of multigenerational exchanges and how these exchanges contribute to community building.Methods: The participants were representatives from 455 Chiiki no Cha-no-Ma (hereafter “Cha-no-Ma”), and the study was implemented in Niigata City, Japan. There were 405 responses (a response rate of 89.0%), with the analytical target being the 401 locations that agreed to participate in the study. A cross-sectional study based on a self-assessment questionnaire method was implemented, and questionnaires were returned directly to the researchers after completion. The survey details included basic information (e.g., date of establishment, frequency of meetings, number of managers and users, qualification of the representative, etc.); characteristic of regional activities; a Social Capital Scale; the effects of the Cha-no-Ma being implemented by the representative (12 items); challenges for management (16 items); and the implementation of multigenerational exchanges.Results: The items that had a significant connection to the implementation of multigenerational exchanges were “Frequency of meetings” (p < 0.001) and “Characteristic regional activities” (p = 0.026). With the relevant factors, a binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted, and the odds ratio for those with a high frequency of meetings was 3.839.There was a significantly higher ratio of the implementation of multigenerational exchanges when the effects were a “connection with the region” (p = 0.006) and “conversations with different generations” (p = 0.004). There was a significantly higher ratio of the implementation of multigenerational exchanges when the challenge was “no support from residents” (p = 0.002).Conclusions: To promote multigenerational exchanges in regional locations, meetings should be held at least once a week, with qualified personnel and the use of regional activities such as making local foods and festivals. It is clear from this community-based study that the implementation of multigenerational exchanges is an important activity for community building because it is related to connection within the community.