Longitudinal Associations Between Friendship and Cognitive Function Among Older Chinese Adults: Will Gender Make a Difference?
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Maintaining strong friendships protects cognitive function in older adults. Declining friendships are linked to lower cognitive function, with recovery benefits varying by gender.
Area Of Science
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background
- Social connections are vital for healthy aging.
- Friendship dynamics may impact cognitive health in later life.
- Understanding these influences is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the impact of friendship trajectories on cognitive function in older Chinese adults (60+).
- To examine the moderating role of gender in the relationship between friendship ties and cognitive function.
Main Methods
- Utilized three waves of data (2014, 2016, 2018) from the Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) with 2145 participants.
- Employed latent class growth modeling (LCGM) to identify distinct friendship trajectories.
- Controlled for baseline cognitive function to assess changes over time.
Main Results
- Identified four friendship trajectories: stable and strong, steady decline, recovery after decline, and decline after growth.
- Participants with a steady decline in friendships showed significantly lower cognitive function compared to those with stable, strong ties.
- Friendship recovery after a decline was associated with greater cognitive function increase in males compared to females.
Conclusions
- Friendship ties play a significant role in maintaining cognitive function among older adults.
- A decline in friendships poses a risk to cognitive health, while recovery may offer protective benefits.
- Gender moderates the cognitive benefits of recovering friendship ties, suggesting tailored interventions may be beneficial.
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