Social Support Network for the Elderly Attending the Open University Program for Senior Citizens at the School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Scientific interest in the positive aspects of aging and the development of healthy aging has increased, given the need to ensure older people well-being and quality of life. In this sense, social support and some sociodemographic variables may have a not yet entirely clear role. The main objective of this work was to analyze the predictive relationships of age, marital status, social support and subjective well-being on the general perception of the health of a group of elderly people. The participants were 137 people (77.4% women) between 61 and 91 years old (M = 73.11; SD = 6.22); 56.9% of them had a partner and 40.1% did not. The path analysis tested indicates that social support has an indirect predictive value on perceived overall health through its influence on subjective well-being. Age and life satisfaction are the most important direct predictors of perceived overall health. Conclusions highlight the need to delve into the study of explanatory factors of the general perception of the health of the elderly and promote interventions to facilitate the development of an appropriate social support network and increase the subjective well-being of this group.

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A influência de grupos de promoção de saúde no envelhecimento de idosos / The influence of health promotion groups on elderly age

Revista Interinstitucional Brasileira de Terapia Ocupacional - REVISBRATO ◽

10.47222/2526-3544.rbto13587 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 305-318

Author(s):

Tiago Santos Leles ◽

Michelle Menezes Carlos ◽

Grasielle Silveira Paulin

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Great Influence ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Support Network ◽

Social Support Network ◽

Occupational Roles ◽

The Social ◽

Distrito Federal

Introdução: Com o crescimento significativo de idosos, é necessário o aprimoramento de políticas públicas que propiciem a promoção de saúde e a prevenção de doenças. A proposta do grupo de promoção de saúde surge como uma estratégia no processo do envelhecimento com o objetivo de garantir qualidade de vida na velhice. Constitui-se como uma iniciativa de atuação interdisciplinar. Objetivo: Compreender a importância dos papéis ocupacionais e do apoio social dos idosos que participam dos grupos de promoção de saúde oferecidos por um Centro de Convivência de uma cidade administrativa do Distrito Federal. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa do tipo qualitativa de caráter descritivo-exploratório, com análise da técnica do discurso do sujeito coletivo. A pesquisa foi realizada em um Centro de Convivência de uma cidade administrativa do Distrito Federal. Para a coleta de dados, utilizaram-se dois instrumentos: a Lista de Identificação de Papéis Ocupacionais e o Diagrama de Escolta. Resultados e Discussão: Foi possível compreender que os grupos de promoção de saúde contribuíram na ampliação da rede de apoio social dos idosos, na criação de novos laços de amizade que fortaleceram os papéis ocupacionais contribuindo para o engajamento em atividades e evitando o isolamento. Conclusão: Conclui-se que os grupos de promoção à saúde do Centro de Convivência tornaram-se um forte incentivador para a ampliação da rede de apoio social e dos papéis ocupacionais, tendo uma grande influência sobre o bem-estar físico, emocional e psicológico dos idosos participantes do estudo. AbstractIntroduction: With the significant growth of the elderly, it is necessary to improve public policies that promote health promotion and disease prevention. The proposal of the health promotion group is presented as a proposal to guarantee quality of life in old age, an initiative of interdisciplinary action, which emerged as a strategy in the aging process. Aims: To understand the importance of the occupational roles and the social support of the elderly people who participate in the health promotion groups offered by a Centro Convivência of an administrative city of the Federal District.Methods: It is a qualitative research of descriptive-exploratory character, with analysis of the discourse technique of the collective subject. The research was carried out in a Coexistence Center of an administrative city of the Federal District. Two instruments, the Occupational Identification List and the Escort Diagram, were used for data collection.Results and Discussion: It was possible to understand that the health promotion groups contributed to the expansion of the social support network of the elderly, the creation of new bonds of friendship that strengthened the occupational roles contributing to the engagement in activities and avoiding isolation. Conclusion: It was concluded that the health promotion groups of the Coexistence Center, have become a strong incentive for expanding the social support network and occupational roles, being a great influence for the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of the study. Keyword: Aging; Social participation; Social net work; Occupational therapy; Socialization.

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Comparison of social support network and expectation of care among elderly persons with different home arrangements

Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia ◽

10.1590/1981-22562019022.190012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Leila Auxiliadora José de Sant’Ana ◽

Maria José D’ Elboux

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Daily Living ◽

Elderly Women ◽

The Elderly ◽

Support Network ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Social Support Network ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Instrumental Activities

Abstract Objective: To compare the social support network and expectation of care among elderly persons who live alone and those who live with others. Method: A cross-sectional study with 348 elderly people living in the community in the municipal region of Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso, Brazil was performed. The elderly were interviewed using a questionnaire composed of socio-demographic issues; evaluation tools of basic and instrumental activities of daily living; and care expectation and perceived social support network. The data were submitted to descriptive and comparative statistical analysis, the chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test at a significance level of 5%. Results: Most of the interviewees were younger elderly women. Of these,14.66% lived alone and 85.34% lived with other people, with mainly bi-generation family arrangements. The majority stated that they had fair health, had up to two diseases, were dependent in instrumental activities of daily living and independent in self-care activities. Elderly persons who lived with others relied on their family, and the expectation of care was aimed at a daughter or daughter-in-law; while those who lived alone expected to rely on neighbors or friends to help with their tasks, if needed. Conclusion: Family members are the greatest providers of support and care, and the elderly hope to count on them when they need help in carrying out basic and instrumental activities of daily living.

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Investigating the role played by social support in the association between religiosity and mental health in low income older adults: results from the São Paulo Ageing & Health Study (SPAH)

Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1590/s1516-44462011000200011 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 157-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alexandre Augusto Macêdo Corrêa ◽

Alexander Moreira-Almeida ◽

Paulo R. Meneze ◽

Homero Vallada ◽

Marcia Scazufca

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Low Income ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

The Elderly ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Religious Attendance ◽

São Paulo ◽

Religious Services

OBJECTIVE: Religiosity has been associated with mental health, especially in the elderly. There is a shortage of studies on the factors that mediate this association, including social support. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the various dimensions of religiosity and the prevalence of common mental disorders among the elderly, and to verify whether social support can work as a mechanism that explains such mediation. METHOD: The sample consisted of an elderly population living in a low income region of the city of São Paulo (N = 1,980). Data on the socio-demographic profile of this population and on the prevalence of common mental disorders were collected, and indicators of religiosity and social support were identified. RESULTS: 90.7% of the sample considered themselves to be religious. In terms of denomination, 66.6% were Catholic. Forty-one per cent attended some kind of religious activity at least once or more times a week. The presence of common mental disorders was not associated with religious affiliation or subjective religiosity. The prevalence of common mental disorders in followers attending religious services was approximately half (OR between 0.43 and 0.55, p < 0.001) compared to those who never attend a religious service. Attending religious services was associated with higher levels of social support. The association between a higher attendance frequency and fewer common mental disorders did not change after the inclusion of relevant of social support variables. CONCLUSION: The study showed that subjects presented high levels of religiosity and that there is a strong association between religious attendance and the prevalence of common mental disorders, which could not be explained by social support.

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Frailty and sociodemographic and health factors, and social support network in the brazilian elderly: A longitudinal study

Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP ◽

10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2021-0192 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 56 ◽

Author(s):

Jack Roberto Silva Fhon ◽

Luípa Michele Silva Cabral ◽

Suellen Borelli Lima Giacomini ◽

Nayara Araújo dos Reis ◽

Marcela Cristina Resende ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Final Analysis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Support Network ◽

Social Support Network ◽

Care Plans ◽

Health Factors

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify and analyze the sociodemographic and health factors and the social support network of the elderly associated with frailty in the assessments carried out between 2007/2008 and 2018. Methods: This is a longitudinal study with elderly people aged ≥65 years living in the community. The instruments used were those for Demographic Profile, the Mini Mental State Examination, the Functional Independence Measure, Lawton and Brody Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Minimum Relationship Map for the Elderly, and Edmonton Frail Scale. Descriptive analysis and linear regression were used, all tests with p < 0.05. Results: Of the 189 elderly in the study period (2007/2008–2018), most were 80 years old and over, with an average of 82.31 years old; they were women, with no partner, who lived with other family members and were retired. In the final analysis, regardless of age and sex, a decrease in functional independence, an increase in depressive symptoms, an increase in the number of self-reported illnesses, and an increase in the frailty score were observed. Conclusion: The factors that were associated with the increase in frailty of the elderly during the study period were age, female sex, and no partner. The health team, which includes nurses, shall be aware of changes and develop care plans to prevent or avoid their progression.

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Mind health in Korea: the effect of social support network types

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SCIENCE ◽

10.21489/hass.2016.12.43.33 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 33

Author(s):

Hearan Koo ◽

Sang-Hee Park

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Support Network ◽

Social Support Network

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Anemia and dementia among the elderly: the São Paulo Ageing & Health Study

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610211001724 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 74-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Itamar S. Santos ◽

Márcia Scazufca ◽

Paulo A. Lotufo ◽

Paulo R. Menezes ◽

Isabela M. Benseñor

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Health Study ◽

São Paulo ◽

Total Blood ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Relationship ◽

Life Function

ABSTRACTBackground: Anemia and dementia are common diseases among the elderly, but conflicting data are available regarding an association between these two conditions. We analyzed data from the São Paulo Ageing & Health Study to address the relationship between anemia and dementia.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included participants aged 65 years and older from a deprived area of the borough of Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil. Data about demographics, education, income, and cognitive and daily life function were collected, as well as blood samples. Anemia and dementia were defined according to WHO and DSM-IV criteria, respectively.Results: Of the 2267 subjects meeting the inclusion criteria, 2072 agreed to participate in the study; of whom 1948 had a valid total blood count and were included in the analysis. Anemia was diagnosed in 203 (10.2%) participants and dementia in 99 (5.1%). The frequency of anemia was higher in patients with dementia according to univariate analysis (odds ratio (OR) = 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17–3.41, p = 0.01), but this association was not present after adjusting for age (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.76–2.33, p = 0.32). Further multivariate adjustment did not change the results.Conclusion: Although anemia and dementia are frequent disorders in older people, we found their relationship to be mediated exclusively by aging in this low-income population from São Paulo.

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Added sugars: consumption and associated factors among adults and the elderly. São Paulo, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia ◽

10.1590/s1415-790x2012000200003 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 256-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Milena Baptista Bueno ◽

Dirce Maria Lobo Marchioni ◽

Chester Luis Galvão César ◽

Regina Mara Fisberg

Keyword(s):

Soft Drink ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Socioeconomic Level ◽

São Paulo ◽

Added Sugar ◽

Added Sugars ◽

Sugar Intake ◽

Factors Associated

OBJECTIVE: To investigate added sugar intake, main dietary sources and factors associated with excessive intake of added sugar. METHODS: A population-based household survey was carried out in São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. Cluster sampling was performed and the study sample comprised 689 adults and 622 elderly individuals. Dietary intake was estimated based on a 24-hour food recall. Usual nutrient intake was estimated by correcting for the within-person variance of intake using the Iowa State University (ISU) method. Linear regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with added sugar intake. RESULTS: Average of energy intake (EI) from added sugars was 9.1% (95% CI: 8.9%; 9.4%) among adults and 8.4% (95% CI: 8.2%; 8.7%) among the elderly (p < 0.05). Average added sugar intake (% EI) was higher among women than among men (p < 0.05). Soft drink was the main source of added sugar among adults, while table sugar was the main source of added sugar among the elderly. Added sugar intake increased with age among adults. Moreover, higher socioeconomic level was associated with added sugar intake in the same group. CONCLUSIONS: Added sugar intake is higher among younger adults of higher socioeconomic level. Soft drink and table sugar accounted for more than 50% of the sugar consumed.

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