OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to increase our understanding of declining network size with aging by differentiating between processes of loss and gain and studying the associations with various health problems. METHODS: Six observations of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) across a time period of 16 years are used to study detailed network changes in a large sample of Dutch older adults aged 55 to 85 at baseline. RESULTS: Results from multilevel regression analyses show that network size declines with aging, in particular for the oldest old. The decline in network size is to a large degree due to a lack of replacement of lost relationships with new relationships. Results show differential effects of health. DISCUSSION: The older old and people in poor health have limited possibilities to compensate for network losses and may have a serious risk of declining network size in later life.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to increase our understanding of declining network size with aging by differentiating between processes of loss and gain and studying the associations with various health problems. METHODS: Six observations of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) across a time period of 16 years are used to study detailed network changes in a large sample of Dutch older adults aged 55 to 85 at baseline. RESULTS: Results from multilevel regression analyses show that network size declines with aging, in particular for the oldest old. The decline in network size is to a large degree due to a lack of replacement of lost relationships with new relationships. Results show differential effects of health. DISCUSSION: The older old and people in poor health have limited possibilities to compensate for network losses and may have a serious risk of declining network size in later life.
Authors: Lotte A H Hermsen; Emiel O Hoogendijk; Johannes C van der Wouden; Martin Smalbrugge; Stephanie S Leone; Henriëtte E van der Horst; Joost Dekker Journal: Aging Clin Exp Res Date: 2017-07-07 Impact factor: 3.636
Authors: Emiel O Hoogendijk; Dorly J H Deeg; Jan Poppelaars; Marleen van der Horst; Marjolein I Broese van Groenou; Hannie C Comijs; H Roeline W Pasman; Natasja M van Schoor; Bianca Suanet; Fleur Thomése; Theo G van Tilburg; Marjolein Visser; Martijn Huisman Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2016-08-20 Impact factor: 8.082