title: A population study of correlates of social participation in older adults with age-related vision loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine personal characteristics, disease-related impairment variables, activity limitations, and environmental factors as correlates of social participation in older adults with vision loss guided by the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline data of a larger longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based vision rehabilitation agency.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 364 older adults with significant vision impairment due to age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-person interviews assessing social participation (i.e. frequency of social support contacts, social/leisure challenges faced due to vision loss, and of social support provided to others) and hypothesized correlates (e.g. visual acuity test, Functional Vision Screening Questionnaire, ratings of attachment to house and neighborhood, environmental modifications in home).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses showed that indicators of physical, social, and mental functioning (e.g. better visual function, fewer difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living, fewer depressive symptoms) were positively related to social participation indicators (greater social contacts, less challenges in social/leisure domains, and providing more support to others). Environmental factors also emerged as independent correlates of social participation indicators when functional variables were controlled. That is, participants reporting higher attachment to their neighborhood and better income adequacy reported having more social contacts; and those implementing more environmental strategies were more likely to report greater challenges in social and leisure domains. Better income adequacy and living with more people were related to providing more social support to others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Environmental variables may play a role in the social participation of older adults with age-related macular degeneration.
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Institute on Aging, Jewish Home Lifecare, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Verena R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Cimarolli
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boerner
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Institute on Aging, Jewish Home Lifecare, New York, NY, USA.|3 Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Joann P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.affiliation: 4 Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Psychological Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Werner
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Psychological Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.affiliation: 6 ACRIA, Center on HIV and Aging, New York, NY, USA.|7 New York University, College of Nursing, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brennan-Ing
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D058992:Social Participation; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Aging; disability; macular degeneration; social participation; visual impairment