The Association between social support and musculoskeletal health in community-dwelling older adults: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study
The Association between social support and musculoskeletal health in community-dwelling older adults: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study
Previous studies suggest social support is associated with musculoskeletal health in later life. We explored this relationship further in community-dwelling older adults, by considering associations between different aspects of social support and musculoskeletal health in community-dwelling adults. Participants from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study reported level of confiding/emotional, practical, and negative support using the Close Persons Questionnaire. Muscle strength was measured by grip strength dynamometry, and physical capability by timed up-and-go, chair rises, and walking speed tests. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol, smoking, physical activity, social class, and diet, was used for analysis. 1842 men and women (mean age 65.7 years) participated. Low emotional support correlated with weaker grip strength and poorer physical capability tests, although estimates were not robust to adjustment for confounders. Low practical support was linked to shorter timed up-and-go (β - 0.171, 95%CI - 0.319, - 0.024) and walking speed times (β - 0.157, 95%CI - 0.306, - 0.007), following adjustment for confounders. Negative support (i.e. the perceived inadequacy of the support received) was associated with lower grip strength (β - 0.145, 95%CI - 0.223, - 0.067) and slower walking speeds (β 0.159, 95%CI 0.004, 0.314). No social support exposures were associated with BMD. Different types of social support are linked to various measures of musculoskeletal health in older adults. Limited requirement for practical support correlated with better physical capability, while negative support correlated with poorer outcomes. No social support measure was associated with BMD.
Absorptiometry, Photon, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bone Density/physiology, Cohort Studies, Female, Hand Strength/physiology, Humans, Independent Living, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle Strength/physiology, Social Support, Older adults, Physical capability, BMD, Grip strength, Social support
8
Bevilacqua, Gregorio
e93e3b18-7d1e-4da5-9fcd-e6b4637e1c2e
D'Angelo, Stefania
13375ecd-1117-4b6e-99c0-32239f52eed6
Laskou, Faidra
3959d6e2-ccfa-4d97-8311-16f27b893365
Zaballa, Elena
1b151ccc-5b1d-4edf-9549-7f604b517fcb
Harvey, Nicholas C.
ce487fb4-d360-4aac-9d17-9466d6cba145
Dennison, Elaine M.
ee647287-edb4-4392-8361-e59fd505b1d1
3 January 2025
Bevilacqua, Gregorio
e93e3b18-7d1e-4da5-9fcd-e6b4637e1c2e
D'Angelo, Stefania
13375ecd-1117-4b6e-99c0-32239f52eed6
Laskou, Faidra
3959d6e2-ccfa-4d97-8311-16f27b893365
Zaballa, Elena
1b151ccc-5b1d-4edf-9549-7f604b517fcb
Harvey, Nicholas C.
ce487fb4-d360-4aac-9d17-9466d6cba145
Dennison, Elaine M.
ee647287-edb4-4392-8361-e59fd505b1d1
Bevilacqua, Gregorio, D'Angelo, Stefania, Laskou, Faidra, Zaballa, Elena, Harvey, Nicholas C. and Dennison, Elaine M.
(2025)
The Association between social support and musculoskeletal health in community-dwelling older adults: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.
Calcified Tissue International, 116 (1), , [8].
(doi:10.1007/s00223-024-01307-z).
Abstract
Previous studies suggest social support is associated with musculoskeletal health in later life. We explored this relationship further in community-dwelling older adults, by considering associations between different aspects of social support and musculoskeletal health in community-dwelling adults. Participants from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study reported level of confiding/emotional, practical, and negative support using the Close Persons Questionnaire. Muscle strength was measured by grip strength dynamometry, and physical capability by timed up-and-go, chair rises, and walking speed tests. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol, smoking, physical activity, social class, and diet, was used for analysis. 1842 men and women (mean age 65.7 years) participated. Low emotional support correlated with weaker grip strength and poorer physical capability tests, although estimates were not robust to adjustment for confounders. Low practical support was linked to shorter timed up-and-go (β - 0.171, 95%CI - 0.319, - 0.024) and walking speed times (β - 0.157, 95%CI - 0.306, - 0.007), following adjustment for confounders. Negative support (i.e. the perceived inadequacy of the support received) was associated with lower grip strength (β - 0.145, 95%CI - 0.223, - 0.067) and slower walking speeds (β 0.159, 95%CI 0.004, 0.314). No social support exposures were associated with BMD. Different types of social support are linked to various measures of musculoskeletal health in older adults. Limited requirement for practical support correlated with better physical capability, while negative support correlated with poorer outcomes. No social support measure was associated with BMD.
Text
s00223-024-01307-z
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 24 November 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 3 January 2025
Published date: 3 January 2025
Keywords:
Absorptiometry, Photon, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bone Density/physiology, Cohort Studies, Female, Hand Strength/physiology, Humans, Independent Living, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle Strength/physiology, Social Support, Older adults, Physical capability, BMD, Grip strength, Social support
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 498044
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/498044
ISSN: 0171-967X
PURE UUID: a932587b-852d-48bc-8052-3f207fc6259e
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 06 Feb 2025 18:05
Last modified: 20 Sep 2025 01:53
Export record
Altmetrics
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
