Social Frailty Is Independently Associated with Mood, Nutrition, Physical Performance, and Physical Activity: Insights from a Theory-Guided Approach

Kalene Pek, Justin Chew, Jun Pei Lim, Suzanne Yew, Cai Ning Tan, Audrey Yeo, Yew Yoong Ding and Wee Shiong Lim
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Kalene Pek: Institute of Geriatrics and Active Ageing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
Justin Chew: Institute of Geriatrics and Active Ageing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
Jun Pei Lim: Institute of Geriatrics and Active Ageing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
Suzanne Yew: Institute of Geriatrics and Active Ageing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
Cai Ning Tan: Institute of Geriatrics and Active Ageing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
Audrey Yeo: Institute of Geriatrics and Active Ageing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
Yew Yoong Ding: Institute of Geriatrics and Active Ageing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
Wee Shiong Lim: Institute of Geriatrics and Active Ageing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Notwithstanding the increasing body of evidence that links social determinants to health outcomes, social frailty is arguably the least explored among the various dimensions of frailty. Using available items from previous studies to derive a social frailty scale as guided by the Bunt social frailty theoretical framework, we aimed to examine the association of social frailty, independently of physical frailty, with salient outcomes of mood, nutrition, physical performance, physical activity, and life–space mobility. We studied 229 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 67.22 years; 72.6% females) who were non-frail (defined by the FRAIL criteria). Using exploratory factor analysis, the resultant 8-item Social Frailty Scale (SFS-8) yielded a three-factor structure comprising social resources, social activities and financial resource, and social need fulfilment (score range: 0–8 points). Social non-frailty (SNF), social pre-frailty (SPF), and social frailty (SF) were defined based on optimal cutoffs, with corresponding prevalence of 63.8%, 28.8%, and 7.4%, respectively. In logistic regression adjusted for significant covariates and physical frailty (Modified Fried criteria), there is an association of SPF with poor physical performance and low physical activity (odds ratio, OR range: 3.10 to 6.22), and SF with depressive symptoms, malnutrition risk, poor physical performance, and low physical activity (OR range: 3.58 to 13.97) compared to SNF. There was no significant association of SPF or SF with life–space mobility. In summary, through a theory-guided approach, our study demonstrates the independent association of social frailty with a comprehensive range of intermediary health outcomes in more robust older adults. A holistic preventative approach to frailty should include upstream interventions that target social frailty to address social gradient and inequalities.

Keywords: social frailty; physical frailty; social gradient; nutrition; physical performance; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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