OBJECTIVES: This article investigates the effect of social support on mortality among Canadian seniors. DATA SOURCE: The analysis is based on longitudinal household data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) for 2,422 people aged 65 or older in 1994/95. Vital status and date of death were established using data collected in 2000/01. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Multivariate proportional hazards models were used to study associations between four indicators of social support (marital status; social contacts; participation in organizations; and perceived emotional support) in 1994/95 and death by 2000/01. Separate analyses were performed for men and women. MAIN RESULTS: When the influence of age, socio-economic status, stress, health-related behaviours and physical/mental health status was taken into account, no association between social support and mortality emerged for women, but such a relationship was evident for men. Married men had a 40% lower hazard of death, compared with their non-married counterparts. Participation in organizations also conferred a reduced likelihood of dying for men.
OBJECTIVES: This article investigates the effect of social support on mortality among Canadian seniors. DATA SOURCE: The analysis is based on longitudinal household data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) for 2,422 people aged 65 or older in 1994/95. Vital status and date of death were established using data collected in 2000/01. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Multivariate proportional hazards models were used to study associations between four indicators of social support (marital status; social contacts; participation in organizations; and perceived emotional support) in 1994/95 and death by 2000/01. Separate analyses were performed for men and women. MAIN RESULTS: When the influence of age, socio-economic status, stress, health-related behaviours and physical/mental health status was taken into account, no association between social support and mortality emerged for women, but such a relationship was evident for men. Married men had a 40% lower hazard of death, compared with their non-married counterparts. Participation in organizations also conferred a reduced likelihood of dying for men.
Authors: Susan M Frayne; Victoria A Parker; Cindy L Christiansen; Susan Loveland; Margaret R Seaver; Lewis E Kazis; Katherine M Skinner Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Agnieszka Sowa; Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk; Roman Topór-Mądry; Andrea Poscia; Daniele Ignazio la Milia Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2016-09-05 Impact factor: 2.655