Social Participation and Elder Mistreatment in a National Sample of Older Adults

Abstract Little is known about how social participation influences older adults' susceptibility to elder mistreatment. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a national probability sample of community-dwelling U.S. adults from 2015-2016 (1,268 women and 973 men; mean age 75 and 76 years, respectively; 82% non-Hispanic white). Frequency of participation in formal activities (community meetings, religious services, and volunteering) and informal social activities (socializing with friends and family) was assessed by questionnaire. Additional measures assessed emotional, physical, and financial mistreatment since age 60. Multivariable logistic regression examined associations between social participation and elder mistreatment, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education, and comorbidity. Forty percent of women and 22% of men reported at least one form of mistreatment (emotional, physical, or financial). Women reporting at least monthly formal social participation were more likely to report emotional mistreatment (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-2.29) and financial mistreatment (AOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.02-2.38) than women with less frequent engagement. Older women who socialized at least weekly were more likely to report emotional mistreatment (AOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.44-0.78) and financial mistreatment (AOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.42-0.85). These associations were not seen among older men. Frequent social engagement in the community does not preclude risk for elder mistreatment, and informal socializing may be associated with decreased exposure to certain forms of mistreatment. Assessment of older adults’ social activities may help guide strategies for detecting and mitigating elder mistreatment in the community.

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Perceived Voice Disorders in Older Adults and Impact on Social Interactions

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-20-00059 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Connie K. Porcaro ◽

Clare Singer ◽

Boris Djokic ◽

Ali A. Danesh ◽

Ruth Tappen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Voice Disorders ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Vocal Performance ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Cross Sectional

Purpose Many aging individuals, even those who are healthy, report voice changes that can impact their ability to communicate as they once did. While this is commonly reported, most do not seek evaluation or management for this issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and differences in voice disorders in older adults, along with the effect of fatigue on their social interactions. Method This is a cross-sectional investigation of a community-dwelling sample of individuals aged 60 years or older. Participants completed the Questionnaire on Vocal Performance, the Social Engagement Index subset “Engagement in Social or Leisure Activities,” and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Results Results indicated 32.5% of the 332 participants reported symptoms of voice problems with no difference found between male and female respondents. A slight increase in report of voice problems was noted with each year of age. Participants who self-reported voice problems indicated less interaction in social activities involving communication than those who did not. Finally, as severity of self-reported voice problems increased, an increase was reported by the same individuals for signs of fatigue. Conclusions Voice problems and resulting decreased social interaction are commonly experienced by older individuals. Voice symptoms in older adults have been found to benefit from evidence-based treatment strategies. It is critical to provide education to encourage older individuals to seek appropriate evaluation and management for voice issues through a speech-language pathologist or medical professional.

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Social Engagement and Episodic Memory in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1101 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 343-343

Author(s):

Abbey Hamlin ◽

A Zarina Kraal ◽

Laura Zahodne

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Future Research ◽

Social Activities ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Social engagement may confer cognitive benefits in older adulthood, but studies have typically been restricted to largely non-Hispanic White (NHW) samples. Levels of social engagement vary across race such that NHW report larger social networks, more frequent participation in social activities, and greater social support than non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB). Associations between social engagement and cognition may also vary by race, but research is sparse. The current cross-sectional study examined associations between different aspects of social engagement and episodic memory performance, as well as interactions between social engagement and race among NHB and NHW participants in the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project (N = 247; 48.4% NHB; age = 64.19 ± 2.92). Social engagement (network size, activities, support) was self-reported. Episodic memory was a z-score composite of immediate, delayed, and recognition trials of a list-learning task. Separate hierarchical linear regression models quantified interactions between race and each of the three social engagement variables on episodic memory, controlling for sociodemographics, depressive symptoms, and health conditions. Results showed a main effect of more frequent social activity on better episodic memory, as well as an interaction between race and social support indicating a significant positive association in NHB but not NHW. These preliminary findings suggest that participating in social activities may be equally beneficial for episodic memory across NHB and NHW older adults and that social support may be particularly beneficial for NHB. Future research is needed to determine the potential applications of these results in reducing cognitive inequalities through the development of culturally-relevant interventions.

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Dairy Product Intake and Long-Term Risk for Frailty among French Elderly Community Dwellers

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072151 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2151

Author(s):

Berna Rahi ◽

Hermine Pellay ◽

Virginie Chuy ◽

Catherine Helmer ◽

Cecilia Samieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Dairy Product ◽

Food Group ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Dairy products (DP) are part of a food group that may contribute to the prevention of physical frailty. We aimed to investigate DP exposure, including total DP, milk, fresh DP and cheese, and their cross-sectional and prospective associations with physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults. The cross-sectional analysis was carried out on 1490 participants from the Three-City Bordeaux cohort. The 10-year frailty risk was examined in 823 initially non-frail participants. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess DP exposure. Physical frailty was defined as the presence of at least 3 out of 5 criteria of the frailty phenotype: weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, weakness, and low physical activity. Among others, diet quality and protein intake were considered as confounders. The baseline mean age of participants was 74.1 y and 61% were females. Frailty prevalence and incidence were 4.2% and 18.2%, respectively. No significant associations were observed between consumption of total DP or DP sub-types and frailty prevalence or incidence (OR = 1.40, 95%CI 0.65–3.01 and OR = 1.75, 95%CI 0.42–1.32, for a total DP consumption >4 times/d, respectively). Despite the absence of beneficial associations of higher DP consumption on frailty, older adults are encouraged to follow the national recommendations regarding DP.

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SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT OF FRAIL ELDERS

Journal of Frailty & Aging ◽

10.14283/jfa.2012.29 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

A. BARUSCH ◽

D.L. WATERS

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Personal Attributes ◽

Social Activities ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Frail Older Adults ◽

Home Based ◽

Home Based Care

Background:Social isolation is a significant problem for frail older adults and the determinants ofsocial engagement are poorly understood. Objectives:This study explored the social engagement of frail eldersto identify personal attributes associated with social engagement. Design, Setting and Participants:A cross-sectional sample of seventy-three people receiving home-based care in one town on the South Island of NewZealand (mean age 82 (7.2) yrs, n=51 Females, 21 Males). Measurements:Face-to-face semi-structuredinterviews and questionnaires. Functional independence was measured using Nottingham Extended Activities ofDaily Living (EADL), self-efficacy by General Self Efficacy Scale, and 2 open-ended questions were piloted onsocial activities and helping others. Results:Regression models identified two statistically associatedcomponents of social engagement: social activities and civic involvement. Contributions to families andcommunity organizations and exercise were important social activities. Personal attributes included perceivedfunctional independence and self-efficacy. Conclusions:In frail older adults, a measurement of socialengagement should address activities older adults identify as important, including exercise. Independence, self -efficacy, and social engagement may interact in reinforcing cycles of empowerment and could play a role indeveloping interventions to retain and maintain function in frail older adults.

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The Influence of Social Isolation on the Preventive Behaviors for Non-Communicable Diseases in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17238985 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 8985

Author(s):

Yuko Yamaguchi ◽

Masako Yamada ◽

Elsi Dwi Hapsari ◽

Hiroya Matsuo

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Participation ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Non Communicable Diseases ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

This study aimed to examine the relationship between one’s physical status related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and social isolation, and to identify lifestyle behaviors for the prevention of NCDs associated with social isolation among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate lifestyle behaviors for NCD prevention associated with social isolation in Japanese adults aged 60 years and above in a community setting. Out of 57 participants, 17.5% were not socially participative, 66.7% hardly ever, 29.8% sometimes, and 3.5% often felt loneliness. Non-social participation and loneliness were negatively related to the frequency of vegetable and fruit intake. Additionally, loneliness was positively associated with one’s duration of smoking and current smoking habits, and negatively associated with the frequency of moderate-intensity activities, with marginal significance. Those with non-social participation or loneliness were less likely to eat a healthy diet and live a smoke-free lifestyle. The findings of this study suggest that a mutual health support system in the community and the development of community-based approaches for the prevention of NCDs among Japanese older adults are needed.

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A Frailty Index from Next-of-Kin Data: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the Mexican Health and Aging Study

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2017/6069374 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mario Ulises Pérez-Zepeda ◽

Matteo Cesari ◽

María Fernanda Carrillo-Vega ◽

Guillermo Salinas-Escudero ◽

Pamela Tella-Vega ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Frailty Index ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Next Of Kin ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

Aging Study ◽

The Mean ◽

Number Of Visits ◽

Sectional Analysis

Objectives. To construct a frailty index from next-of-kin information of the last year of life of community-dwelling 50 years old or older adults and test its association with health services utilization. Methods. Cross-sectional analysis from next-of-kin data available from the last wave of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). Measurements. Along with descriptive statistics, the frailty index (FI) was tested in regression models to assess its association with adverse outcomes previous to death: number of hospitalized days in the previous year and number of visits to a physician in the previous year, in unadjusted and adjusted models. Results. From a total of 2,649 individuals the mean of age was 74.8 (±11.4) and 56.3% (n = 1,183) were women. The mean of the FI was of 0.279 (±SD 0.131, R = 0.0–0.738) and distribution was biased to the right. There was a significant association (p < 0.001) between the FI and number of hospitalized days (β = 45.7, 95% CI 36.1–55.4, p < 0.001) and for the number of visits to a physician (β = 25.93, 95% CI 19.27–32.6, p < 0.001) both models adjusted for age and sex. Conclusion. The FI constructed with next-of-kin data showed similar characteristics to similar indexes of older adults. It was independently associated with health care use.

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