title: Social resources and change in functional health: comparing three age groups.
abstract: This study examined the mediating and moderating role of social resources on the association between age and change in functional health for three age groups of older adults. Data were provided by those in their 60s, 80s, and 100s who participated in the first two phases of the Georgia Centenarian study. Analyses confirmed the study's hypothesis that social resources moderated the relationship between age group and change in functional health; in particular, centenarians who experienced the greatest decline in IADLs scored the highest on social resources at time 1. No evidence was found for mediation by social resources or a directional influence by either level of social resources or functional health on change in the other resource. Evidence from this study challenges researchers and service providers to consider the heterogeneity in resources among older adults.
authors.affiliation: Bradley University, Peoria. IL 61625, USA. krandall@bradley.edu
authors.forename: G Kevin
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Alex J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Leonard W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Poon
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors