Gender Differences in Objective and Subjective Social Isolation and Self-Reported Hypertension in Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Hypertension is a significant public health issue, particularly among older adults.
• Gender disparities influence hypertension prevalence.
• Social connections positively impact health, whereas social isolation is associated with adverse outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender differences in the association between social isolation and hypertension in older adults.
• To explore the roles of objective and subjective social isolation in hypertension risk.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Survey of American Life (1280 adults aged ≥55).
• Employed weighted logistic regressions to analyze gender differences in social isolation and hypertension.
• Differentiated between objective (from family, friends, or both) and subjective social isolation.

Main Results:

• Objective isolation from family and/or friends was associated with lower hypertension likelihood.
• When subjective isolation was considered, only isolation from family predicted hypertension.
• Gender moderated the relationship: men isolated from family and friends showed increased hypertension risk, but women did not.

Conclusions:

• Preventing objective social isolation, particularly from family, may mitigate hypertension risk in older adults.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking social isolation and health outcomes in older U.S. adults.