Does Low Subjective Social Status Predict Cognitive Decline in Chinese Older Adults? A 4-Year Longitudinal Study From Hong Kong

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean H. Kim ◽  
Timothy S. Sumerlin ◽  
William B. Goggins ◽  
Elizabeth M.S. Kwong ◽  
Jason Leung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Subjective Social Status ◽  
Chinese Older Adults

scholarly journals Social isolation, rather than loneliness, is associated with cognitive decline in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bin Yu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Jia
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Confounding Variables

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.

Does subjective social status predict depressive symptoms in Chinese elderly? A longitudinal study from Hong Kong

2020 ◽  
pp. jech-2019-212451
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kwong ◽  
Timothy T Y Kwok ◽  
Timothy S Sumerlin ◽  
William B Goggins ◽  
Jason Leung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Subjective Social Status ◽  
Chinese Elderly ◽  
Future Risk ◽  
Perceived Social Status

BackgroundSubjective social status (SSS), one’s self-perceived social status, has been gaining interest among researchers as a risk/protective factor of many health outcomes. SSS encompasses both socio-economic factors (eg, income) and intangible aspects of status (eg, esteem from peers). This study’s main objective was to examine the association between SSS and future risk of depression in elderly Chinese.MethodsUsing data from the ongoing Mr/Mrs Os study, a longitudinal study of Hong Kong Chinese elderly, this study analysed baseline SSS-Hong Kong (self-perceived social status within Hong Kong) and SSS-Community (self-perceived status within one’s own social network) as predictors of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score at year 4 (n=3153). The models adjusted for baseline depression scores, socio-economic status indicators, demographic variables, clinical conditions and functional status variables.ResultsHigher depression scores at follow-up were independently associated with lower SSS-Hong Kong (standardised β-coefficient= −0.040, p=0.017), lower SSS-Community (standardised β-coefficient= −0.057, p=0.001), in addition to older age, female gender and stroke history. After stratifying by dementia status, higher baseline SSS was associated with less depressive symptoms only in the non-dementia group. In the multivariable models that included both SSS variables, only SSS-Community was significantly associated with year 4 GDS score. However, both SSS variables were independently associated with year 4 depression status in the logistic regression analysis.ConclusionIn Chinese elderly, SSS captures aspects of social status that are not captured by traditional socio-economic indicators. SSS can be a useful supplementary tool for assessing future risk of developing mental health conditions.

scholarly journals Social isolation, rather than loneliness, is associated with cognitive decline in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bin Yu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Jia
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Confounding Variables

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.

scholarly journals Reliability of the MacArthur scale of subjective social status - Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luana Giatti ◽  
Lidyane do Valle Camelo ◽  
Jôsi Fernandes de Castro Rodrigues ◽  
Sandhi Maria Barreto
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Subjective Social Status ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Macarthur Scale

Open space and sense of community of older adults: a study in a residential area in Hong Kong

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Yu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThis study examines the relationship between quality and quantity of open space in residential areas and the sense of community of Chinese older adults in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted with 257 adults aged 55 and over in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong. The quality of open space was assessed from four dimensions: social and recreational facilities, entrance, location and environment. Geographic information system (GIS) was used to evaluate the quantity of open space in terms of size and amount.FindingsThe result shows that the environment has a strong influence on the sense of community, while the quantity of open space does not. The results provide urban planners with evidence for open space planning in the future. Urban planners should consider building more people-oriented environment; such as green areas instead of merely increasing the size, amount and facilities of open space. The Hong Kong Government also needs to review the current standardised planning guideline in order to maximise the social connection of older adults.Originality/valueThis cross-sectional study tried to understand the relationship between the quality and quantity of open spaces and sense of community in Chinese older adults in Hong Kong. It is one of the few studies to simultaneously examine both the quality and quantity of open spaces when studying its relationship with sense of community.

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