Nan Jiang1, Bei Wu2, Nan Lu3, Tingyue Dong4. 1. Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. 2. Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY. 3. Department of Social Work, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China. 4. Institute of Gerontology, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate which neighborhood-based social capital components are associated with a higher level of cognitive function in LMICs. METHODS: This international population-based study used cross-sectional survey data from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), a study of adults aged 50 years or older in China, Ghana, India, the Russian Federation, and South Africa from 2007 through 2010 (N = 29 528). Associations between neighborhood-based social capital indicators (trust in neighbors, perceived neighborhood safety, and community participation) and cognitive function were examined using ordinary least squares regressions and random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: Results of the meta-analyses of within-country effects indicated that trust in neighbors were positively associated with cognitive function across India, Russia, and Ghana, but negatively associated in South Africa (β = -0.041, SE = .013, P < .01) and no effect in China (P > .05). The significant effect of perceived neighborhood safety was only found in South Africa (β = 0.051, SE = .007, P < .001) and China (β = 0.030, SE = .005, P < .001). Community participation approached a null effect in South Africa (P > .05). DISCUSSION: Different indicators of neighborhood-based social capital, which are well-established protective resources for cognitive function, may have varied relationships with cognitive function cross-nationally. This finding provides a better understanding of the mechanisms by which neighborhood social capital may contribute to better cognitive function in LMICs than high-income countries, potentially due to differences in neighborhood environments, health systems, and availability of public resources.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate which neighborhood-based social capital components are associated with a higher level of cognitive function in LMICs. METHODS: This international population-based study used cross-sectional survey data from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), a study of adults aged 50 years or older in China, Ghana, India, the Russian Federation, and South Africa from 2007 through 2010 (N = 29 528). Associations between neighborhood-based social capital indicators (trust in neighbors, perceived neighborhood safety, and community participation) and cognitive function were examined using ordinary least squares regressions and random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: Results of the meta-analyses of within-country effects indicated that trust in neighbors were positively associated with cognitive function across India, Russia, and Ghana, but negatively associated in South Africa (β = -0.041, SE = .013, P < .01) and no effect in China (P > .05). The significant effect of perceived neighborhood safety was only found in South Africa (β = 0.051, SE = .007, P < .001) and China (β = 0.030, SE = .005, P < .001). Community participation approached a null effect in South Africa (P > .05). DISCUSSION: Different indicators of neighborhood-based social capital, which are well-established protective resources for cognitive function, may have varied relationships with cognitive function cross-nationally. This finding provides a better understanding of the mechanisms by which neighborhood social capital may contribute to better cognitive function in LMICs than high-income countries, potentially due to differences in neighborhood environments, health systems, and availability of public resources.
Authors: Rachel L Peterson; Kristen M George; Duyen Tran; Pallavi Malladi; Paola Gilsanz; Amy J H Kind; Rachel A Whitmer; Lilah M Besser; Oanh L Meyer Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-07-04 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Yu-Tzu Wu; Carol Brayne; Zhaorui Liu; Yueqin Huang; Ana Luisa Sosa; Daisy Acosta; Matthew Prina Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-09-01 Impact factor: 3.295