title: Social support mediates the relationships between extraversion, neuroticism, and cognitive function in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We supplement existing findings on a link between social support and cognitive function in later life by considering the role of personality as an antecedent to both, and of social support as a mediator of the link between personality and cognitive function.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated social support using the Lubben Social Network Scale, across 624 adults aged over 60 years, and investigated this measure as a mediator of the relationships between extraversion and neuroticism at baseline 2007-2009, and cognitive function at follow-up, 2 years later. A half-longitudinal mediation design, within a structural equation modelling framework, was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a direct effect of extraversion, such that lower levels were related to higher scores of cognitive function. There was no significant direct effect of neuroticism on cognitive function at follow-up. Social support partially mediated the paths between both extraversion and neuroticism and cognitive function at follow-up. Decomposing the mediation effects by using social support subscales (measuring support from friends, relatives and neighbours) showed meaningful indirect effects for both predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that social support may offer a target for interventions for cognitively at-risk older adults and add to the existing empirical evidence describing the link between personality and cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: UK CRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health, Institute of Clinical Sciences Block B, Grosvenor Road, Queen's University Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BJ, UK; Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: mchughje@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McHugh Power
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.affiliation: UK CRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health, Institute of Clinical Sciences Block B, Grosvenor Road, Queen's University Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BJ, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010551:Personality; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Ageing; Cognitive assessment; Personality; Social support