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Disability and social ties: comparative findings of the CLESA study
M V Zunzunegui1, A Rodriguez-Laso2, A Otero2
1Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7 Canada.
European Journal of Ageing
|August 11, 2017
Summary
Strong social connections help older adults maintain and regain independence in daily activities. This study highlights the protective effect of social ties on activities of daily living (ADL) disability across different European countries.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Social ties are crucial for the well-being of community-dwelling older adults.
- Understanding the relationship between social connections and activities of daily living (ADL) disability is vital for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between social ties and the prevalence, incidence, and recovery of ADL disability among older adults in Finland, The Netherlands, and Spain.
- To investigate the role of social participation, family ties, and friendships in maintaining and restoring functional independence.
Main Methods:
- Harmonized data from the CLESA study, including 3,648 participants aged 65-85.
- Assessment of ADL disability at baseline and follow-up.
- Development of a social ties index incorporating social participation, family ties, and friends; logistic regression analysis adjusted for covariates.
Main Results:
- A higher social ties index, presence of friends, and social participation were associated with lower prevalence of ADL disability across all countries.
- Number of family ties was negatively associated with ADL incidence, with a stronger effect observed in Spain.
- The social ties index was positively associated with ADL recovery; no significant age or gender differences were found.
Conclusions:
- Social ties exert a beneficial influence on the maintenance and restoration of functional abilities in older adults.
- Family ties demonstrate a stronger protective effect against disability incidence compared to social participation, with cultural variations noted.
- Interventions promoting social connectedness may support independence and improve quality of life for the aging population.
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