Kelly Ann Renwick1, Claudia Sanmartin2, Kaberi Dasgupta3, Lea Berrang-Ford4, Nancy Ross5. 1. Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Appalachian State University, 301 Bodenheimer Drive, Boone, NC, 28608, USA. renwickka@appstate.edu. 2. Statistics Canada, R.H. Coats Building, Floor 24 A, 100 Tunney's Pasture, Driveway, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0T6, Canada. 3. Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), Research Institute of the MUHC, McGill University, 5252 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, Office 3E.09, Montréal, QC, H4A 3S5, Canada. 4. Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. 5. Department of Geography, McGill University, Burnside Hall, Room 705, 805, Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B9, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Among older Canadians, we examined the influence of low social support, a weak sense of belonging, and living alone to understand their role on mortality risk in Canada. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of older Canadians surveyed in 2001 from the Canadian Community Health Survey and followed up with death events through December 31, 2011 from the Canadian Vital Statistics Database. Analyses were stratified by age: 55-64 and 65 and older. Social support was assessed using measures developed for the Medical Outcomes Study. A sense of belonging, a binary measure, measured community integration. Living alone was a binary measure. Survival analysis was applied using a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for age, sex, income, smoking, and frailty. RESULTS: Among respondents 55-64 (n = 6822), low affection (HR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.07, 1.75), low emotional/informational support (HR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.06, 1.74), and low positive social interactions (HR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.06, 1.75) were associated with mortality risk. Among respondents 65 and older (n = 8966), low affection (HR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.04, 1.31), low positive social interactions (HR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.07, 1.34), low emotional/informational support (HR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.06, 1.33), and a weak sense of belonging (HR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.05, 1.22) were associated with mortality risk. CONCLUSION: Low social support and a weak sense of belonging are important risk factors among older Canadians and should be part of the dialogue in Canada about their roles in healthy aging.
OBJECTIVES: Among older Canadians, we examined the influence of low social support, a weak sense of belonging, and living alone to understand their role on mortality risk in Canada. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of older Canadians surveyed in 2001 from the Canadian Community Health Survey and followed up with death events through December 31, 2011 from the Canadian Vital Statistics Database. Analyses were stratified by age: 55-64 and 65 and older. Social support was assessed using measures developed for the Medical Outcomes Study. A sense of belonging, a binary measure, measured community integration. Living alone was a binary measure. Survival analysis was applied using a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for age, sex, income, smoking, and frailty. RESULTS: Among respondents 55-64 (n = 6822), low affection (HR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.07, 1.75), low emotional/informational support (HR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.06, 1.74), and low positive social interactions (HR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.06, 1.75) were associated with mortality risk. Among respondents 65 and older (n = 8966), low affection (HR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.04, 1.31), low positive social interactions (HR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.07, 1.34), low emotional/informational support (HR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.06, 1.33), and a weak sense of belonging (HR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.05, 1.22) were associated with mortality risk. CONCLUSION: Low social support and a weak sense of belonging are important risk factors among older Canadians and should be part of the dialogue in Canada about their roles in healthy aging.
Entities:
Keywords:
Linked data; Living alone; Mortality; Sense of belonging; Social support
Authors: Silvia Stringhini; Lisa Berkman; Aline Dugravot; Jane E Ferrie; Michael Marmot; Mika Kivimaki; Archana Singh-Manoux Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2012-04-24 Impact factor: 4.897