Gender differences in the relation between depression and social support in later life

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.M. Sonnenberg ◽  
D.J.H. Deeg ◽  
T.G. van Tilburg ◽  
D. Vink ◽  
M.L. Stek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Need For Affiliation ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study

ABSTRACTBackground: Prevalence of depression is twice as high in women as in men, also in older adults. Lack of social support is a risk factor for late-life depression. The relation between depression and social support may be different for men and women.Methods: Data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used to investigate gender differences in the relation between social support and depression in a population-based sample aged 55–85 years, with n = 2,823 at baseline and using the 13-year follow-up data on onset of depression.Results: Respondents without a partner in the household, with a small network, and with low emotional support were more often depressed, with men showing higher rates of depression than women. A high need for affiliation was associated with depression in women but not in men. Lack of a partner in the household and having a small network predicted onset of depression in men but not in women. In respondents with high affiliation need and low social support, depression rates were higher, with men being more often depressed than women.Conclusions: Low social support and a high need for affiliation were related to depression in later life, with men being more vulnerable for depression than women. Considering the serious consequences of depression, especially in older people, it is important to identify the persons with low social support and a high need for affiliation, and to help them to increase their social support or to adjust their needs.

scholarly journals The Social Support–Health Link Unraveled: Pathways Linking Social Support to Functional Capacity in Later Life

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 616-626
Author(s):  
Bianca Suanet ◽  
Marja J. Aartsen ◽  
Emiel O. Hoogendijk ◽  
Martijn Huisman
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Initial Level ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Latent Growth ◽  
Indirect Path ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study

Objective: Despite evidence that social support is strongly related to health, very little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association. This study investigates whether physical activity, depressive symptoms, and chronic diseases mediate the associations between social support and functional capacity. Method: Data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam on 954 participants, aged 75 and older, covering 9 years, are analyzed with latent growth mediation models. Results: Only the indirect path from the initial level of emotional support to the initial level of functional capacity through the initial level of depressive symptoms was significant. All mediators however were significantly associated with the level of and changes in functional capacity. Models with reversed pathways were estimated, but model fit was worse. Discussion: Because only initial levels of social support relate to functional capacity, and changes in social support do not, older adults likely receive the support they need.

scholarly journals Frailty Changes Predict Mortality in 4 Longitudinal Studies of Aging

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwin Stolz ◽  
Emiel O Hoogendijk ◽  
Hannes Mayerl ◽  
Wolfgang Freidl
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Frailty Index ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Time To Event Data ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study

Abstract Background Baseline frailty index (FI) values have been shown to predict mortality among older adults, but little is known about the effects of changes in FI on mortality. Methods In a coordinated approach, we analyzed data from 4 population-based cohorts: the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the English Longitudinal Survey of Ageing (ELSA), and the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), comprising a total of 24 961 respondents (65+), 95 897 observations, up to 9 repeated FI assessments, and up to 23 years of mortality follow-up. The effect of time-varying FI on mortality was modeled with joint regression models for longitudinal and time-to-event data. Results Differences (of 0.01) in current FI levels (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.04, 95% credible interval [CI] = 1.03–1.05) and baseline FI levels (HR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.03–1.05) were consistently associated with mortality across studies. Importantly, individuals with steeper FI growth also had a higher mortality risk: An increase in annual FI growth by 0.01 was associated with an increased mortality risk of HR = 1.56 (95% CI = 1.49–1.63) in HRS, HR = 1.24 (95% CI = 1.13–1.35) in SHARE, HR = 1.40 (95% CI = 1.25–1.52) in ELSA, and HR = 1.71 (95% CI = 1.46–2.01) in LASA. Conclusions FI changes predicted mortality independently of baseline FI differences. Repeated assessment of frailty and individual’s frailty trajectory could provide a means to anticipate further health deterioration and mortality and could thus support clinical decision making.

scholarly journals Cohort differences in having and retaining friends in personal networks in later life

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan L. Stevens ◽  
Theo G. Van Tilburg
Keyword(s):  
Older Persons ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Personal Networks ◽  
Personal Choice ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study ◽  
Gender Specific

Friendship has increased in importance during the last few decades. The study examines whether friendship has become more prevalent in personal networks of older adults. Three cohorts of older persons have been followed since 1992 for 17 years in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. The younger cohort had friends more often and retained friends longer than two older cohorts. The differences are related to personal choice, relational competence and greater structural opportunities for making and keeping friends that were available to the younger cohort. Women retained same-sex friends longer than men. The oldest women lost cross-sex friends more often than did men. This is related to different gender-specific survival rates and to women’s tendency to retain friendships longer.

Ten-Year Course of Cosmic Transcendence in Older Adults in the Netherlands

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjan W. Braam ◽  
Henrike Galenkamp ◽  
Peter Derkx ◽  
Marja J. Aartsen ◽  
Dorly J. H. Deeg
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study ◽  
Cosmic Transcendence ◽  
Sense Of Mastery

Objectives Gerotranscendence is defined as a transition from a materialistic and rationalistic perspective to a more cosmic and transcendent view of life accompanying the aging process. Would gerotranscendence levels still increase in later life? The current prospective study investigates 10-year trajectories of cosmic transcendence (a core dimension of gerotranscendence). Methods Four interview cycles of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam with 3-year intervals from 1995 to 2006 provide data on cosmic transcendence, demographics (ages 57–85), religiousness, health, sense of mastery, and humor coping. Data are available for 2,257 respondents and 1,533 respondents in multivariate models. Results Latent Class Growth Analysis shows three course trajectories of cosmic transcendence: stable high, intermediate with a decrease, and stable low. Higher levels are predicted by age, importance of prayer, Roman Catholic affiliation, a low sense of mastery, higher cognitive ability, and humor coping. Similar results were obtained for the respondents who died during the study ( N = 378). Discussion Although levels of cosmic transcendence do not show much change during 10 years of follow-up, the oldest respondents nonetheless attain the highest cosmic transcendence levels. An inclination toward relativism and contemplation may facilitate cosmic transcendence. However, lower cognitive ability probably impairs the development toward cosmic transcendence.

Anxiety symptoms and cognitive performance in later life: Results from the longitudinal aging study Amsterdam

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis J.M. Bierman ◽  
Hannie C. Comijs ◽  
Frank Rijmen ◽  
Cees Jonker ◽  
Aartjan T.F. Beekman
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study

Emergence and persistence of late life depression: a 3-year follow-up of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

2001 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.T.F Beekman ◽  
D.J.H Deeg ◽  
S.W Geerlings ◽  
R.A Schoevers ◽  
J.H Smit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study

scholarly journals Loneliness in Later Life and Reaching Longevity: Findings From the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd Brandts ◽  
Theo G van Tilburg ◽  
Hans Bosma ◽  
Martijn Huisman ◽  
Piet A van den Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Cox Regression ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Personal Network ◽  
Emotional Loneliness ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study ◽  
Social Loneliness

Abstract Objectives There is an increasing research interest in factors that characterize those who reach exceptionally old ages. Although loneliness is often associated with an increased risk for premature mortality, its relationship with reaching longevity is still unclear. We aimed to quantify the association between (social/emotional) loneliness and the likelihood of reaching the age of 90 years in men and women separately. Methods For these analyses, data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used. Loneliness, social loneliness, and emotional loneliness were assessed at baseline using the 11-item De Jong-Gierveld scale in 1992–1993 (at age 64–85 years). Follow-up for vital status information until the age of 90 years was 99.5% completed. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analyses with a fixed follow-up time were based on 1,032 men and 1,078 women to calculate risk ratios (RR) of reaching 90 years. Results No significant associations were observed between loneliness and reaching 90 years in both men (RR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70–1.14) and women (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.83–1.14). Social loneliness was significantly associated with a reduced chance of reaching 90 years in women (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.67–0.99). Discussion The current analyses did not show support for the existence of a meaningful effect of loneliness on reaching longevity in both sexes. When investigating specific dimensions of loneliness, we observed that reporting social loneliness was associated with reaching 90 years in women. This indicates that, for women, a large and diverse personal network at an older age could increase the probability of reaching longevity. However, replication of our findings in other cohorts is needed.

scholarly journals Late-life depression symptom dimensions and cognitive functioning in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)

2016 ◽  
Vol 201 ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anamaria Brailean ◽  
Hannie C. Comijs ◽  
Marja J. Aartsen ◽  
Martin Prince ◽  
A. Matthew Prina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Depression Symptom ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Symptom Dimensions ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study
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