Associations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil
Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of social isolation and its associations with sociodemographic and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults recruited from households. Methods: A cross-sectional study of baseline data (2015–2016) of 7886 Brazilian adults aged 50 years and...
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Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging |
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| Online Access: | https://cdn.publisher.gn1.link/ggaging.com/pdf/v18209.pdf |
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| author | Paulo Afonso Sandy Júnior Flávia Silva Arbex Borim Daniela de Assumpção Anita Liberalesso Neri |
| author_facet | Paulo Afonso Sandy Júnior Flávia Silva Arbex Borim Daniela de Assumpção Anita Liberalesso Neri |
| author_sort | Paulo Afonso Sandy Júnior |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of social isolation and its associations with sociodemographic and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults recruited from households. Methods: A cross-sectional study of baseline data (2015–2016) of 7886 Brazilian adults aged 50 years and older from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) was conducted. Social isolation was the dependent variable, as defined by living arrangement, frequency of contact with children, relatives, and friends, and degree of participation in social activities within the community. The independent variables were sociodemographic aspects, health-related behaviors, and health status. Associations between social isolation and independent variables were estimated using Poisson regression analysis. Results: The prevalence ratio (PR) of high level of social isolation was 23.13%. Significant positive associations were observed between high level of social isolation and male sex (PR 1.27; 95%CI 1.16–1.40); being 70 to 79 years old (PR 1.22; 95%CI 1.07–1.39) or 80 years or older (PR 1.56; 95%CI 1.32–1.85); having no formal education (PR 3.15; 95%CI 2.69–3.68) or having a maximum of 4 years (PR 2.11; 95%CI 1.82–2.46) or 5 to 8 years of formal education (PR 1.54; 95%CI 1.30–1.84); fair self-rated health (PR 1.25; 95%CI 1.12–1.39); depressive symptoms (PR 1.22; 95%CI 1.07–1.40); and poor-quality diet (PR 1.37; 95%CI 1.19–1.58). Fair sleep quality was negatively associated with social isolation (PR 0.87; 95%CI 0.78–0.98). Conclusions: The group most at risk for social isolation comprises men, aged 70 or older, with low educational attainment, fair self-rated health, and an unhealthy diet. Future research should use longitudinal study designs to investigate causal relationships and develop interventions for older adults who are socially isolated. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4554a564f4e54c8e8b9a26ae0d5edf75 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2447-2123 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology |
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| series | Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging |
| spelling | doaj-art-4554a564f4e54c8e8b9a26ae0d5edf752025-01-09T11:31:23ZengBrazilian Society of Geriatrics and GerontologyGeriatrics, Gerontology and Aging2447-21232025-01-01181910.53886/gga.e0000209_ENAssociations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-BrazilPaulo Afonso Sandy Júnior0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1805-2565Flávia Silva Arbex Borim1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7316-1145Daniela de Assumpção2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3841-9811Anita Liberalesso Neri3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6833-7668Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerontologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Campinas (SP), Brazil.Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerontologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Campinas (SP), Brazil.Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerontologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Campinas (SP), Brazil.Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerontologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Campinas (SP), Brazil.Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of social isolation and its associations with sociodemographic and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults recruited from households. Methods: A cross-sectional study of baseline data (2015–2016) of 7886 Brazilian adults aged 50 years and older from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) was conducted. Social isolation was the dependent variable, as defined by living arrangement, frequency of contact with children, relatives, and friends, and degree of participation in social activities within the community. The independent variables were sociodemographic aspects, health-related behaviors, and health status. Associations between social isolation and independent variables were estimated using Poisson regression analysis. Results: The prevalence ratio (PR) of high level of social isolation was 23.13%. Significant positive associations were observed between high level of social isolation and male sex (PR 1.27; 95%CI 1.16–1.40); being 70 to 79 years old (PR 1.22; 95%CI 1.07–1.39) or 80 years or older (PR 1.56; 95%CI 1.32–1.85); having no formal education (PR 3.15; 95%CI 2.69–3.68) or having a maximum of 4 years (PR 2.11; 95%CI 1.82–2.46) or 5 to 8 years of formal education (PR 1.54; 95%CI 1.30–1.84); fair self-rated health (PR 1.25; 95%CI 1.12–1.39); depressive symptoms (PR 1.22; 95%CI 1.07–1.40); and poor-quality diet (PR 1.37; 95%CI 1.19–1.58). Fair sleep quality was negatively associated with social isolation (PR 0.87; 95%CI 0.78–0.98). Conclusions: The group most at risk for social isolation comprises men, aged 70 or older, with low educational attainment, fair self-rated health, and an unhealthy diet. Future research should use longitudinal study designs to investigate causal relationships and develop interventions for older adults who are socially isolated.https://cdn.publisher.gn1.link/ggaging.com/pdf/v18209.pdfsocial isolationself-careaginghealth behaviorsociodemographic factors |
| spellingShingle | Paulo Afonso Sandy Júnior Flávia Silva Arbex Borim Daniela de Assumpção Anita Liberalesso Neri Associations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging social isolation self-care aging health behavior sociodemographic factors |
| title | Associations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil |
| title_full | Associations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Associations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil |
| title_short | Associations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil |
| title_sort | associations of social isolation with sociodemographic aspects and health indicators in brazilian middle aged and older adults elsi brazil |
| topic | social isolation self-care aging health behavior sociodemographic factors |
| url | https://cdn.publisher.gn1.link/ggaging.com/pdf/v18209.pdf |
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