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How does social support affect functional impairment in late life? Findings of a multicenter prospective cohort study in Germany
- Authors:
- HAJEK Andre, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Age and Ageing, 46(5), 2017, pp.813-820.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
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: The 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. (Edited publisher abstract)
What are the psychosocial consequences when fear of falling starts or ends? Evidence from an asymmetric fixed effects analysis based on longitudinal data from the general population
- Authors:
- HAJEK Andre, KONIG Hans-Helmut
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 35(9), 2020, pp.1028-1035.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The purpose of this study was to identify whether the onset and the end of fear of falling (FOF) are associated with psychosocial consequences (in terms of depressive symptoms, loneliness, social isolation, autonomy, and subjective well‐being). Methods/Design: Longitudinal data for this study were taken from the nationally representative German Ageing Survey which included community‐dwelling individuals ≥40 years (wave 5 and wave 6). Psychosocial outcome measures were assessed using widely established and well‐validated scales. The presence of FOF was used as the main explanatory variable. It was adjusted for age, family status, labor force participation, self‐rated health, physical functioning, as well as the number of chronic conditions. Results: Linear fixed effects regressions revealed that FOF was associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes (increased depressive symptoms, lower life satisfaction, lower positive affect, higher negative affect, and lower perceived autonomy). Asymmetric fixed effects regressions analysis showed that the onset of FOF was associated with reduced life satisfaction as well as reduced autonomy, whereas the end of FOF was associated with reduced depressive symptoms, decreased loneliness scores, as well as decreased negative affect. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that future studies should analyze the consequences of FOF differently (onset and end of FOF) which has practical important implications. More specifically, while strategies to avoid the onset of FOF may help to maintain satisfaction with life and autonomy, strategies to end FOF may contribute to avoid increased loneliness, feelings of negative affect, as well as increased depressive symptoms. (Publisher abstract)