Low supply of social support as risk factor for mortality in the older adults

Author(s)

Pereira de Brito, Tabatta Renata ^[1] ; Nunes, Daniella Pires ^[2] ; Corona, Ligiana Pires ^[3] ; Alexandre, Tiago da Silva ^[4] ; de Oliveira Duarte, Yeda Aparecida ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Alfenas, Rua Gabriel Monteiro da Silva 700, BR-37130000 Alfenas, MG - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Tocantins, Dept Nursing, Quadra 109 Norte, Ave NS 15, ALCNO 14, BR-77001090 Plano Diretor Norte, Palmas - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, R Pedro Zaccaria 1300, Caixa Postal 1068, BR-13484350 Limeira, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Gerontol, Rod Washington Luis Km 235, SP 310, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Nursing, Dept Med Surg Nursing, Ave Dr Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar 419, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS; v. 73, p. 77-81, NOV 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the relationship between social support and mortality in older adults, independent of other health conditions. Method: This was a longitudinal study using the database of the 2006 SABE Study (Heath, Well-being and Aging), composed of 1413 individuals aged 60 years and over, living in Sao Paulo/Brazil. The present study used a questionnaire constructed for the SABE Study, which was reviewed by experts of Latin America and the Caribbean. The social network was evaluated using the variables: social support received; social support offered; number of members in the social network. The covariates included were age, gender, living arrangements, marital status, income, education, comorbidity, depressive symptoms, cognition and functional difficulties. Death as an outcome was evaluated after four years of follow-up. Results: From a total of 1413 older adults at baseline, 268 died in a mean follow-up period of 3,9 years (SE = 0,03). In the model adjusted offering social support and having networks composed of 9 or more members reduced the risk of death in the older adults. Conclusions: This study suggest that older adult who are offered support can benefit from mutual exchanges since reciprocity in relationships improves psychological well-being and is indicative of the quality of relationships. Thus, the older adults are part of a group of people whose role is not only to receive, but also to provide help to others, and the support offered seems to be as important as that received. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/53778-3 - SABE Study 2010: Health, well-being and aging
• Grantee: Maria Lúcia Lebrão
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 05/54947-2 - SABE study - 2005: well-being and ageing: longitudinal study of living conditions and health of elderly in the municipality of São Paulo
• Grantee: Ruy Laurenti
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants