Influence of social support on cognitive function in the elderly.
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.
Yeh
Shu-Chuan Jennifer
SC
Institute of Human Resource Management, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. syeh@cm.nsysu.edu.tw
Liu
Yea-Ying
YY
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