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

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.

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

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610212001202 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 61-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

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.

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Social network size, loneliness, physical functioning and depressive symptoms among older adults: examining reciprocal associations in four waves of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1002/gps.5560 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joan Domènech‐Abella ◽

Jordi Mundó ◽

Lise Switsers ◽

Theo van Tilburg ◽

Daniel Fernández ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Network Size ◽

Social Network Size ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study ◽

Reciprocal Associations

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Aircraft noise control policy and mental health: a natural experiment based on the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2020-214264 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. jech-2020-214264

Author(s):

Liming Li ◽

Ludovico Carrino ◽

Erica Reinhard ◽

Erik Timmermans ◽

Martijn Huisman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Noise Control ◽

Control Policy ◽

Aircraft Noise ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study ◽

The New Deal ◽

Aircraft Noise Control

BackgroundThis study examines the impact of environmental noise policy on depressive symptoms by exploiting the national experiment afforded by the New Deal aircraft noise control policy introduced in Schiphol (Amsterdam) in 2008.MethodsData came from older adults (ages 57–102) participating in three waves (2005/2006, 2008/2009 and 2011/2012) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) (N=1746). Aircraft noise data from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency were linked to LASA cohort addresses using the GeoDMS software. The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression (CES-D) scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Using a difference-in-dfferences (DiD) approach, we compared changes in CES-D levels of depressive symptoms before and after the policy between people living close (≤15 km) and those living far away (>15 km) from Schiphol airport.ResultsThere were few changes in noise levels after the introduction of the policy. Estimates suggested that the policy did not lead to a reduction in noise levels in the treatment areas relative to the control areas (DiD estimate=0.916 dB(A), SE=0.345), and it had no significant impact on levels of depressive symptoms (DiD estimate=0.044, SE=0.704). Results were robust to applying different distance thresholds.ConclusionThe New Deal aircraft noise control policy introduced in Amsterdam was not effective in reducing aircraft noise levels and had no impact on depressive symptoms in older people. Our results raise questions about the effectiveness of the current noise control policy to improve the well-being of residents living near the airport.

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Depression, physical health and disability in later life: A pragmatic approach based on the findings of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/0924-9338(96)88616-0 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 212s ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A.T.F. Beekman ◽

D.J.H. Deeg ◽

W.V. Tilburg

Keyword(s):

Physical Health ◽

Later Life ◽

Pragmatic Approach ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study

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

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407510386191 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 24-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

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.

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

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415016668354 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 44-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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

Aging & Mental Health ◽

10.1080/13607860802224276 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 517-523 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

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

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

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa145 ◽

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.

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