title: Health behaviors, social networks, and healthy aging: cross-sectional evidence from the Nurses' Health Study.
abstract: Physical function is a significant component of health-related quality of life among older adults. Potential correlates of healthy aging, including health behaviors and social network characteristics, were examined among 56,436 US women aged 55-72 in 1992. Healthy aging was assessed by maintenance of physical function measured by four subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF)-36 Health Survey: physical functioning; role limitations; freedom from bodily pain; and vitality. Individual health behaviors, defined as current smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and being overweight each contributed to significant decrements in functioning across all age-groups. After controlling for these health behaviors and other confounders (age, race, education, and co-morbid conditions), elements of a woman's social network were significantly correlated with functional status. Strong predictors of high functioning among older women were having close friends and relatives and presence of a confidant. For example, the absence of a confidant was associated with a 4.44 point reduction in physical functioning (95% CI: -7.0, -1.9), and a 5.68 point reduction in vitality (95% CI: -7.9, -3.4). These effects were comparable in magnitude to those observed among heavy smokers, or women in the highest category of body mass index.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Channing Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Colditz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coakley
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawachi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support