Relationship between Social Support Networks and Physical Functioning in Older Community-Dwelling Mexicans

Víctor Manuel Mendoza-Núñez, Fabiola González-Mantilla, Elsa Correa-Muñoz and Raquel Retana-Ugalde
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Víctor Manuel Mendoza-Núñez: Unidad de Investigación en Gerontología, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Guelatao N° 66, Col. Ejército de Oriente, 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
Fabiola González-Mantilla: Maestría en Enfermería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CP 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
Elsa Correa-Muñoz: Unidad de Investigación en Gerontología, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Guelatao N° 66, Col. Ejército de Oriente, 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
Raquel Retana-Ugalde: Unidad de Investigación en Gerontología, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Guelatao N° 66, Col. Ejército de Oriente, 09230 Mexico City, Mexico

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: Some studies have demonstrated the relationship between social support networks (SSNs) and health status. In this sense, it has been considered that physical and mental functioning is a key indicator of the health in the age people. The aim of this study was to determine the association between social support networks and physical functioning. A cross-sectional study was carried out including a convenience sample of 150 older community-dwelling Mexicans. We assessed the familial, extra-familial and institutional SSNs; social contacts; the activities of daily living (ADL); the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs); and physical functioning task (PFT) performance among study participants. Of the 150 older subjects, 53 reported living alone (35%), 113 (75%) reported having few SSNs, and 37 (25%) reported having enough SSNs. Persons with few familial SSNs were at increased odds of demonstrating dependence in at least one of the ADL (OR = 3.25, 95% CI 1.06–9.92, p < 0.05). Likewise, persons with few institutional SSNs and few social contacts were at increased odds of demonstrating dependence in at least one of the IADL (OR = 6.96, 95% CI 1.57–30.7, p < 0.01; OR = 5.02, 95% CI 1.44–17.5, p < 0.01, respectively). We also observed that having few extra-familial SSNs and few social contacts were the main risk factors for PFT dependence, with ORs of 3.70 (95% CI 1.21–11.2, p < 0.05) and 3.85 (95% CI 1.10–13.5, p < 0.05), respectively. Our findings suggest that having few SSNs could be a significant risk factor for reduced physical functioning in older adults.

Keywords: social support networks; physical functioning; healthy ageing; Mexican older people (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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