The Longitudinal Relationships between Social Relationships and Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Health: The Role of Frailty

Abstract

Abstract Background Socially isolated older adults incur increased risks of adverse health outcomes, though the strength of this association is unclear. We examined whether changes in physical frailty moderated the associations between changes in social relationships and changes in health outcomes among older adults.Methods This longitudinal study is based on three waves of the FRéLE study among 1643 Canadian community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older over two years. We performed latent growth curve modeling to assess changes with the assumption of missing not at random, adjusting for time-invariant covariates. Social relationships were measured by social participation, social networks, and social support from social ties. Frailty was assessed using the five components of the phenotype of frailty.Results The moderation results revealed that changes toward increasing social participation, social contact with friends, social support from friends, and nuclear and extended family were associated with greater changes toward better cognitive and mental health, but not physical health, among frailer older adults in contrast with those who were more robust. These results highlight the beneficial role of social relationships on mental and cognitive health among frail older adults.Conclusions This longitudinal study suggests that social support has a protective and compensatory role in enhancing mental health among frail older adults. Further experimental studies and interventions are warranted to extend findings on the relationships between social relationships and health outcomes, targeting frail older adults. Future studies may consider other health-related risk factors that may impact the associations between social relationships and physical, mental, and cognitive health outcomes among older adults.