Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
14.5K
Cognitive Functioning in Rural Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support.
Marko Krnjajić1,2, Željko Mudri1,3, Marija Barišić1,4
1Department of Nursing and Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Car Hadrijan Street 21, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Social support is crucial for maintaining cognitive function in older adults. Higher perceived social support, especially from friends, is linked to better cognitive performance and mediates the effects of living arrangements.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Aging is a complex process influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
- Social support enhances cognitive reserve by mitigating stress and promoting mental engagement.
- Understanding social support's role is vital for healthy aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between perceived social support and cognitive functioning in older adults.
- To determine if social support mediates the link between living arrangements and cognitive performance.
- To explore the impact of different sources of social support on cognition.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 265 older adults (65+ years) was recruited from rural communities.
- The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) measured cognitive function.
- The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support assessed social support levels.
Main Results:
- Higher perceived social support from family and friends significantly correlated with better MoCA scores.
- Support from friends demonstrated the strongest predictive effect on cognitive performance.
- Perceived social support acted as a mediator between living arrangements and cognitive functioning.
Conclusions:
- Perceived social support is a key factor in preserving cognitive health among the elderly.
- Interventions aimed at enhancing social support may benefit cognitive aging.
- The findings underscore the importance of social connections for maintaining cognitive function in later life.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
202
Cognitive processes affect social behavior by guiding how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to social stimuli. These mental processes enable individuals to assess others' behaviors, attribute causes to their actions, and form expectations based on past experiences.Causes of Behavior and Social JudgmentsIndividuals determine the causes of others' behaviors by distinguishing between personal traits and external circumstances. For example, if a friend frequently arrives late, an...
202
01:30Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
1.0K
Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering...
1.0K
01:01Role of Emotions in Social Life
376
Emotions play a fundamental role in shaping human experience and interactions. The absence of emotions would render life incomplete and fail to capture the essence of human nature. In social psychology, feelings and moods have been extensively studied due to their profound impact on social life and interpersonal relationships. These affective states influence decision-making, behavior, and social perceptions, making them integral to understanding human interactions.Emotions and Social...
376
01:41Social Traps
26.9K
Social traps are negative situations where people get caught in a direction or relationship that later proves to be unpleasant, with no easy way to back out of or avoid. The concept was orignally introduced by John Platt who applied psychology to Garrett Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons", where in New England herd owners could let their cattle graze in the common ground. This situation seems like a good idea, but an individual could have an advantage. If they owned...
26.9K
02:06Social Exchange Theory
40.8K
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
40.8K
02:10Social Scripts
10.3K
People tend to know what behavior is expected of them in specific, familiar settings. A script is a person’s knowledge about the sequence of events expected in a specific setting (Schank & Abelson, 1977). Essentially, scripts are a particular kind of schema, one containing default values for the features within an event. In the restaurant example, the script's features include the props (e.g., tables, menu, food, and money), the roles to be played (e.g., customer and waiter),...
10.3K