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Social network and participation in elderly primary care patients in Germany and associations with depressive symptoms: a cross-cectional analysis from the AgeWell.de study

This study aims to describe social network and social participation and to assess associations with depressive symptoms in older persons with increased risk for dementia in Germany. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in primary care patients (aged 60-77) as part of a multicenter clus...

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Main Authors: Wendel, Flora (Author) , Bauer, Alexander (Author) , Blotenberg, Iris (Author) , Brettschneider, Christian (Author) , Buchholz, Maresa (Author) , Czock, David (Author) , Döhring, Juliane (Author) , Escales, Catharina (Author) , Frese, Thomas (Author) , Hoffmann, Wolfgang (Author) , Kaduszkiewicz, Hanna (Author) , König, Hans-Helmut (Author) , Löbner, Margrit (Author) , Luppa, Melanie (Author) , Schwenker, Rosemarie (Author) , Thyrian, Jochen René (Author) , Weißenborn, Marina (Author) , Wiese, Birgitt (Author) , Zöllinger, Isabel (Author) , Riedel-Heller, Steffi G. (Author) , Gensichen, Jochen (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 8 October 2022
In: Journal of Clinical Medicine
Year: 2022, Volume: 11, Issue: 19, Pages: 1-12
ISSN:2077-0383
DOI:10.3390/jcm11195940
Online Access:Verlag, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11195940
Verlag, Volltext: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/19/5940
Resolving-System, kostenfrei: https://doi.org/10.25673/110399
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Author Notes:Flora Wendel, Alexander Bauer, Iris Blotenberg, Christian Brettschneider, Maresa Buchholz, David Czock, Juliane Döhring, Catharina Escales, Thomas Frese, Wolfgang Hoffmann, Hanna Kaduszkiewicz, Hans-Helmut König, Margrit Löbner, Melanie Luppa, Rosemarie Schwenker, Jochen René Thyrian, Marina Weißenborn, Birgitt Wiese, Isabel Zöllinger, Steffi G. Riedel-Heller and Jochen Gensichen
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Summary:This study aims to describe social network and social participation and to assess associations with depressive symptoms in older persons with increased risk for dementia in Germany. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in primary care patients (aged 60-77) as part of a multicenter cluster-randomized controlled trial (AgeWell.de). We present descriptive and multivariate analyses for social networks (Lubben Social Network Scale and subscales) and social participation (item list of social activities) and analyze associations of these variables with depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale). Of 1030 included patients, 17.2% were at risk for social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale < 12). Looking at the subscales, a reduced non-family network was found almost twice as often as a reduced family network. Patients with depressive symptoms had significantly smaller social networks than patients without depression (p < 0.001). They rather engaged in social activities of low involvement level or no weekly social activity at all (p < 0.001). The study shows associations of depressive symptoms with a decreased social network and less social participation in elderly participants. Sufficient non-family contacts and weekly social activities seem to play an important role in mental health and should be encouraged in elderly primary care patients.
Item Description:Gesehen am 11.01.2023
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2077-0383
DOI:10.3390/jcm11195940

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