Social Relationships and Functional Impairment in Aging Cancer Survivors: A Longitudinal Social Network Study.

This study examined the relationships between changes in the egocentric social network and functional impairment in older adult cancer survivors and a similarly aged group without cancer (older adults). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were analyzed from 1,481 community dwelling older adults (n = 201 cancer survivors) aged 57-85 years, from Waves 1 and 2 (2005-2006 and 2010-2011) of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. Associations were analyzed with multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Cancer survivors and older adults reported similar levels of functional impairment and social network change. Adding 2 new relationships exhibited protective effects against functional impairment, irrespective of cancer status (odds ratio [OR]: 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.41-0.99). Declines in frequent contact were associated with higher odds of functional impairment among cancer survivors (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.15-3.20). Social network components were not significantly associated with functional impairment in older adults. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Adding new relationships may reduce disability in older adults and increasing network contact may help cancer survivors remain independent. Social network interventions may improve quality of life for older adults. PMID: 31050729 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The Gerontologist - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Gerontologist Source Type: research