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Social support and mortality in seniors
1Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6. kathryn.wilkins@statcan.ca
Health Reports
|June 21, 2003
Summary
Social support, including marriage and organizational participation, significantly reduces mortality risk in Canadian senior men, but not women. This highlights a gendered difference in social support
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Social support is crucial for health outcomes in older adults.
- Previous research suggests a link between social connections and longevity.
- Gender differences in health determinants require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of social support on mortality among Canadian seniors.
- To determine if this association differs between men and women.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) from 1994/95 to 2000/01.
- Analysis of 2,422 individuals aged 65+.
- Multivariate proportional hazards models assessing marital status, social contacts, organizational participation, and perceived emotional support.
Main Results:
- No significant association between social support and mortality was found for women.
- For men, married status was linked to a 40% lower hazard of death.
- Increased participation in organizations also reduced mortality risk in men.
Conclusions:
- Social support plays a differential role in mortality risk for senior men and women.
- Interventions promoting social engagement may be particularly beneficial for older men's longevity.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these gender-specific effects.
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