title: Psychosocial and functional correlates of nutrition among community-dwelling older adults in Ireland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine psychosocial and functional correlates of nutrition in a nonrandom sample of Irish community-dwelling older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Technology Research for Independent Living (TRIL) Clinic, a comprehensive geriatric assessment facility in St James's Hospital, Dublin. Data were collected from participants by medical personnel (physical assessments) and psychologists (questionnaires), between August 2007 and May 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  556 participants (388 females; 168 males) ranging in age from 60-92 years (Mean 72.5 years, SD 7.1). All were community-dwelling and provided informed consent.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Nestlé Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA®), Time to get up and go (TUG) and the Lubben Social Network Scale-18 (LSNS-18) were used to assess nutrition, functional mobility and social support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between social support or mobility and nutritional status, whilst controlling for possible confounders (age, gender, living alone and material deprivation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strongest predictors of abnormal nutritional status were mobility (p < 0.001) and social support (p = 0.005). Other significant predictors of nutritional risk were age (p = 0.032) and deprivation (p = 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results emphasise the importance of mobility and social supports in mediating nutritional outcomes in Irish community-dwelling older adults.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero-Ortuno
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prendergast
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lawlor
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007494:Ireland; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support