Social support and health among older adults – the Singapore Chinese Health Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Jon Barrenetxea ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Kyriakos S. Markides ◽  
An Pan ◽  
Woon-Puay Koh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Health Factors ◽  
Lower Social Support ◽  
Singapore Chinese ◽  
To Receive

Abstract While having social support can contribute to better health, those in poor health may be limited in their capacity to receive social support. We studied the health factors associated with social support among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. We used data from the third follow-up interviews (2014–2016) of 16,943 participants of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based cohort of older Singapore Chinese. Participants were interviewed at a mean age of 73 years (range 61–96 years) using the Duke Social Support Scale (DUSOCS). We first applied ordinary least squares regression to DUSOCS scores and found that those with instrumental limitations, poor self-rated health, cognitive impairment and depression had lower social support scores. We then applied latent class analysis to DUSOCS answer patterns and revealed four groups of older adults based on the source and amount of social support. Among them, compared to the ‘overall supported’ group (17%) with the highest social support scores and broad support from family members and non-family individuals, the ‘family restricted’ (50%) group had the lowest social support scores and only received support from children. Health factors associated with being ‘family restricted’ were instrumental limitations (odds ratio (OR) = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19–1.49), poor self-rated health (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.28–1.53), cognitive impairment (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.04–1.37) and depression (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 2.22–2.82). We found that while older adults in poor health have lower social support scores, they were more likely to receive a lot of support from children. Our results showed that lower social support scores among Singaporean older adults in poor health may not indicate lack of social support, but rather that social support is restricted in scope and intensified around children. These results may apply to other Asian societies where family plays a central role in elder-care.

scholarly journals Older Adults in Poor Health Received Social Support Mainly From Family: The Singapore Chinese Health Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 169-169
Author(s):  
Jon Barrenetxea ◽  
Yang Yi ◽  
Kyriakos S Markides ◽  
Woon Puay Koh ◽  
Feng Qiushi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
The Family ◽  
Health Factors ◽  
Received Social Support ◽  
Singapore Chinese

Abstract While having social support can contribute to the health of older adults, those in poor health may be limited in their capacity to receive social support. We studied health factors associated with social support among 16,948 participants from follow-up 3 of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based cohort of older Singapore Chinese. Participants were interviewed at mean age of 73 years (range from 61 to 96 years) using the Duke Social Support Scale. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was applied to derive groups based on the source and intensity of social support. We ran multivariate logistic regression models to study health factors associated with group membership. LCA revealed four groups in increasing social support scores: The “family restricted”, who had the lowest social support scores and only received support from family (50%); the “loners”, who had some support from extended family and non-family (5%); the “family oriented”, who had broad family support and some non-family support (28%); and the “overall supported”, who had the highest social support scores and received broad support from family, extended family and non-family (17%). Compared to the “overall supported” group, health factors associated with being “family restricted” were: having instrumental limitations [odds ratio (OR) 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-1.50], having poor self-rated health (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.28-1.54), being depressed (OR 2.49, 95% CI 2.21-2.81) and being cognitively impaired (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.37). Our results showed that older adults in poor health received social support mainly from family.

scholarly journals Social Disconnection and Living Arrangements among Older Adults: The Singapore Chinese Health Study

Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jon Barrenetxea ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
An Pan ◽  
Qiushi Feng ◽  
Woon-Puay Koh
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Singapore Chinese ◽  
Social Disconnection

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Although living alone is associated with social disconnection, older adults could be socially disconnected despite living with others. Understanding the factors associated with social disconnection by living arrangement could help identify vulnerable older adults in the community. We examined the sociodemographic and health factors associated with social disconnection among two groups of older adults: those living alone and those living with others. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We used data from 16,943 community-dwelling older adults from the third follow-up of the Singapore Chinese Health Study (mean age: 73 years, range: 61–96 years). We defined social disconnection as having no social participation and scoring in the lowest decile on the Duke Social Support Scale of perceived social support. We ran logistic regression models to study the sociodemographic (age, gender, and education) and health (self-rated health, instrumental limitations, cognitive function, and depression) factors associated with social disconnection, stratified by living arrangement. <b><i>Results:</i></b> About 6% of our participants were socially disconnected. Although living alone was significantly associated with social disconnection (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.58–2.35), 85.6% of socially disconnected older adults lived with others, most of them (92%) with family. Lower education level, cognitive impairment, fair/poor self-rated health, instrumental limitations, and depression were independently associated with social disconnection. Among those living alone, men were more likely to experience social disconnection than women (OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.43–3.32). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Though living alone is associated with social disconnection, most socially disconnected individuals lived with family. Community interventions could focus on those in poor health despite living with family and older men living alone.

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Social Isolation Among Older Adults: The Singapore Chinese Health Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 168-168
Author(s):  
Jon Barrenetxea ◽  
Yang Yi ◽  
Woon Puay Koh ◽  
Feng Qiushi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Singapore Chinese

Abstract Social isolation is a determinant of mortality and well-being among older people. Factors associated with isolation could be different in societies where older adults live mainly with family, as individuals might feel isolated despite living with others. We studied the factors associated with isolation among 16,948 older adults from follow-up 3 of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based cohort of older Singapore Chinese (mean age of 73, range: 61-96 years). We defined social isolation as having “zero hour per week” of participation in social activities involving 3 or more people and scoring the lowest decile on the Duke Social Support Scale of perceived social support. We used multivariable logistic regressions to compute odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for factors associated with likelihood of social isolation. Although only 14.4% of isolated participants lived alone, living alone remained a significant factor associated with isolation (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.58-2.35), together with cognitive impairment (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.46-2.04) and depression (OR 2.44, 95% CI 2.12-2.80). Higher education level was inversely associated with isolation (p for trend&lt;0.001). In stratified analysis, among those living alone, compared to women, men had higher odds of social isolation (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.43-3.32) than among those not living alone (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84-1.17) (p for interaction&lt;0.001). Our results showed that living alone, cognitive impairment and depression were indicators of isolation among older Singaporeans. In addition, among those living alone, men were more likely to experience social isolation than women.

The role of gender in the association of social capital, social support, and economic security with self-rated health among older adults in deprived communities in Beirut

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1371-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiam Chemaitelly ◽  
Caroline Kanaan ◽  
Hind Beydoun ◽  
Monique Chaaya ◽  
Mona Kanaan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Capital Social ◽  
Self Rated Health

scholarly journals Health and educational aspirations in adolescence: a longitudinal study in Finland

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Dobewall ◽  
Pirjo Lindfors ◽  
Sakari Karvonen ◽  
Leena Koivusilta ◽  
Mari-Pauliina Vainikainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Educational Aspirations ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Health Complaints ◽  
Health Selection ◽  
Selection Hypothesis ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Health Factors

Abstract Background The health selection hypothesis suggests that poor health leads to low educational attainment during the life course. Adolescence is an important period as poor health might prevent students from making the best educational choices. We test if health in adolescence is associated with educational aspirations and whether these associations persist over and above sociodemographic background and academic achievement. Methods Using classroom surveys, a cohort of students (n = 5.614) from the Helsinki Metropolitan Region was followed from the 7th (12–13 years,) up to the 9th grade (15–16 years) when the choice between the academic and the vocational track is made in Finland. Health factors (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), self-rated health, daily health complaints, and long-term illness and medicine prescribed) and sociodemographic background were self-reported by the students. Students’ educational aspirations (applying for academic versus vocational track, or both) and their academic achievement were obtained from the Joint Application Registry held by the Finnish National Agency for Education. We conducted multilevel multinomial logistic regression analyses, taking into account that students are clustered within schools. Results All studied health factors were associated with adolescents’ educational aspirations. For the SDQ, daily health complaints, and self-rated health these associations persisted over and above sociodemographic background and academic achievement. Students with better health in adolescence were more likely to apply for the academic track, and those who were less healthy were more likely to apply for the vocational track. The health in the group of those students who had applied for both educational tracks was in between. Inconsistent results were observed for long-term illness. We also found robust associations between educational aspirations and worsening health from grade 7 to grade 9. Conclusions Our findings show that selection by health factors to different educational trajectories takes place at early teenage much before adolescents choose their educational track, thus supporting the health selection hypothesis in the creation of socioeconomic health inequalities. Our findings also show the importance of adolescence in this process. More studies are needed to reveal which measures would be effective in helping students with poor health to achieve their full educational potential.

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