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How does social support affect functional impairment in late life?: findings of a multicenter prospective cohort study in Germany

Abstract: Objective: to investigate how social support affects functional impairment (FI) in late life in a longitudinal approach. Methods: in a multicenter prospective cohort study, subjects in old age (≥75 years at baseline) were interviewed every 1.5 years. Social support was quantified in the fo...

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Main Authors: Hajek, André (Author) , Weyerer, Siegfried (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 14 February 2017
In: Age & ageing
Year: 2017, Volume: 46, Issue: 5, Pages: 813-820
ISSN:1468-2834
DOI:10.1093/ageing/afx012
Online Access:Verlag, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afx012
Verlag, Volltext: https://academic-oup-com.ezproxy.medma.uni-heidelberg.de/ageing/article/46/5/813/2993051
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Author Notes:André Hajek, Christian Brettschneider, Tina Mallon, Carolin van der Leeden, Silke Mamone, Birgitt Wiese, Siegfried Weyerer, Jochen Werle, Angela Fuchs, Michael Pentzek, Steffi G. Riedel-Heller, Janine Stein, Horst Bickel, Dagmar Weeg, Kathrin Heser, Michael Wagner, Wolfgang Maier, Martin Scherer, Tobias Luck, Hans-Helmut König
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Summary:Abstract: Objective: to investigate how social support affects functional impairment (FI) in late life in a longitudinal approach. Methods: in a multicenter prospective cohort study, subjects in old age (≥75 years at baseline) were interviewed every 1.5 years. Social support was quantified in the follow-up (FU) Waves 2 and 4 (FU Wave 2: n = 2,349; FU Wave 4: n = 1,484). FI was assessed by using the Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale. Results: fixed effects regressions showed that a decrease in social support is associated with FI in the total sample and in both sexes. The effect on FI was most pronounced with the dimension social integration, whereas changes in practical support only affected FI in the total sample and changes in emotional support only affected FI in men. Conclusions: our findings emphasise the importance of social support for functional status in late life. Thus, strengthening social support in old age might be effective in maintaining functional abilities.
Item Description:Gesehen am 23.07.2018
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1468-2834
DOI:10.1093/ageing/afx012

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