The impact of structural and functional characteristics of social relations as determinants of functional decline.

Kirsten Avlund; Rikke Lund; Bjørn E Holstein; Pernille Due; Ritva Sakari-Rantala; Riitta-Liisa Heikkinen

The impact of structural and functional characteristics of social relations as determinants of functional decline.

Kirsten Avlund, Rikke Lund, Bjørn E Holstein, Pernille Due, Ritva Sakari-Rantala, Riitta-Liisa Heikkinen

105 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examines whether aspects of social relations at baseline are related to functional decline at 5-year follow-up among nondisabled old men and women. METHODS: The investigation is based on baseline and follow-up data on 651 nondisabled 75-year-old persons in Jyväskylä (Finland) and Glostrup (Denmark). The analyses are performed separately for men and women. Possible selection problems were considered by using three outcome measures: first, functional decline among the survivors (n = 425); second, functional decline, including death, assuming that death is part of a general decline pattern (n = 565); and third, mortality (n = 651). Social relations were measured at baseline by several items focusing on the structure and function of the social network. RESULTS: In men, no weekly telephone contact was related to functional decline and mortality. Among women, less than weekly telephone contact, no membership in a retirement club, and not sewing for others were significantly related to functional decline and mortality. The associations were stronger when the dead were included in the outcome measure. DISCUSSION: The results point to the importance of social relations in the prevention of functional decline in older adults.

Original language	English
Journal	Journals of Gerontology. Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences
Volume	59
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	S44-51
ISSN	1079-5014
Publication status	Published - 2004

Cite this

The impact of structural and functional characteristics of social relations as determinants of functional decline. / Avlund, Kirsten; Lund, Rikke; Holstein, Bjørn E et al.

In: Journals of Gerontology. Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences, Vol. 59, No. 1, 2004, p. S44-51.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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title = "The impact of structural and functional characteristics of social relations as determinants of functional decline.",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: This study examines whether aspects of social relations at baseline are related to functional decline at 5-year follow-up among nondisabled old men and women. METHODS: The investigation is based on baseline and follow-up data on 651 nondisabled 75-year-old persons in Jyv{\"a}skyl{\"a} (Finland) and Glostrup (Denmark). The analyses are performed separately for men and women. Possible selection problems were considered by using three outcome measures: first, functional decline among the survivors (n = 425); second, functional decline, including death, assuming that death is part of a general decline pattern (n = 565); and third, mortality (n = 651). Social relations were measured at baseline by several items focusing on the structure and function of the social network. RESULTS: In men, no weekly telephone contact was related to functional decline and mortality. Among women, less than weekly telephone contact, no membership in a retirement club, and not sewing for others were significantly related to functional decline and mortality. The associations were stronger when the dead were included in the outcome measure. DISCUSSION: The results point to the importance of social relations in the prevention of functional decline in older adults.",

author = "Kirsten Avlund and Rikke Lund and Holstein, {Bj{\o}rn E} and Pernille Due and Ritva Sakari-Rantala and Riitta-Liisa Heikkinen",

note = "Keywords: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Depression; Disabled Persons; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Social Behavior",

year = "2004",

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T1 - The impact of structural and functional characteristics of social relations as determinants of functional decline.

AU - Avlund, Kirsten

AU - Lund, Rikke

AU - Holstein, Bjørn E

AU - Due, Pernille

AU - Sakari-Rantala, Ritva

AU - Heikkinen, Riitta-Liisa

N1 - Keywords: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Depression; Disabled Persons; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Social Behavior

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study examines whether aspects of social relations at baseline are related to functional decline at 5-year follow-up among nondisabled old men and women. METHODS: The investigation is based on baseline and follow-up data on 651 nondisabled 75-year-old persons in Jyväskylä (Finland) and Glostrup (Denmark). The analyses are performed separately for men and women. Possible selection problems were considered by using three outcome measures: first, functional decline among the survivors (n = 425); second, functional decline, including death, assuming that death is part of a general decline pattern (n = 565); and third, mortality (n = 651). Social relations were measured at baseline by several items focusing on the structure and function of the social network. RESULTS: In men, no weekly telephone contact was related to functional decline and mortality. Among women, less than weekly telephone contact, no membership in a retirement club, and not sewing for others were significantly related to functional decline and mortality. The associations were stronger when the dead were included in the outcome measure. DISCUSSION: The results point to the importance of social relations in the prevention of functional decline in older adults.

AB - OBJECTIVES: This study examines whether aspects of social relations at baseline are related to functional decline at 5-year follow-up among nondisabled old men and women. METHODS: The investigation is based on baseline and follow-up data on 651 nondisabled 75-year-old persons in Jyväskylä (Finland) and Glostrup (Denmark). The analyses are performed separately for men and women. Possible selection problems were considered by using three outcome measures: first, functional decline among the survivors (n = 425); second, functional decline, including death, assuming that death is part of a general decline pattern (n = 565); and third, mortality (n = 651). Social relations were measured at baseline by several items focusing on the structure and function of the social network. RESULTS: In men, no weekly telephone contact was related to functional decline and mortality. Among women, less than weekly telephone contact, no membership in a retirement club, and not sewing for others were significantly related to functional decline and mortality. The associations were stronger when the dead were included in the outcome measure. DISCUSSION: The results point to the importance of social relations in the prevention of functional decline in older adults.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 14722343

SN - 1079-5014

VL - 59

SP - S44-51

JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

IS - 1

ER -

The impact of structural and functional characteristics of social relations as determinants of functional decline.

Abstract

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