title: Influence of social support on cognitive function in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social support is important in daily activities of the elderly. This study tests the hypothesis that there is an association between social support and cognitive function among the elderly in a community setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face interviews were conducted in a cross-sectional stratified random sample of 4,993 elderly (> or =65 years) city residents. Using multiple regression analysis, we investigated the influence of social support on cognitive function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  12% were over 80 years old. 53.28% were men. 67.14% were married. Higher Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) scores (higher score means better cognitive function) were associated with strong social support, as measured by marital status and perceived positive support from friends. Lower cognitive function was associated with older and with female respondents. Only instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were statistically and negatively related to SPMSQ. Lower functional status was associated with lower cognitive function. Elders with grade school educations had lower SPMSQ scores than did elders with high school educations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Taiwan, higher cognitive function in community-living elderly was associated with increased social support. Life-style management should provide social activities for the elderly to promote a better quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Resource Management, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. syeh@cm.nsysu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Shu-Chuan Jennifer
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Yea-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008132:Loneliness; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D011788:Quality of Life; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan