Dataset Information

Promoting functional health in midlife and old age: long-term protective effects of control beliefs, social support, and physical exercise.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies have examined physical risk factors in relation to functional health, but less work has focused on the protective role of psychological and social factors. We examined the individual and joint protective contribution of control beliefs, social support and physical exercise to changes in functional health, beyond the influence of health status and physical risk factors in middle-aged and older adults. Given that functional health typically declines throughout adulthood, it is important to identify modifiable factors that can be implemented to maintain functioning, improve quality of life, and reduce disability.

Methodology/principal findings

We conducted a national longitudinal study, Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), with assessments in 1995-1996 and 2004-2006, and 3,626 community-residing adults, aged 32 to 84, were included in the analyses. Functional health (Physical Functioning subscale of the SF-36) and protective factors were measured at both occasions. While controlling for socio-demographic, health status, and physical risk factors (large waist circumference, smoking, and alcohol or drug problems), a composite of the three protective variables (control beliefs, social support, and physical exercise) at Time 1 was significantly related to functional health change. The more of these factors at Time 1, the better the health maintenance over 10 years. Among middle-aged and older adults, declines in health were significantly reduced with an increased number of protective factors.

Conclusion/significance

Age-related declines in health were reduced among those with more protective factors up to a decade earlier in life. Modifiable psychological, social, and physical protective factors, individually and in the aggregate, are associated with maintenance of functional health, beyond the damaging effects of physical risk factors. The results are encouraging for the prospect of developing interventions to promote functional health and for reducing public health expenditures for physical disability in later life.

SUBMITTER: Lachman ME

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2952603 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Promoting functional health in midlife and old age: long-term protective effects of control beliefs, social support, and physical exercise.

Lachman Margie E ME Agrigoroaei Stefan S

PloS one 20101011 10

<h4>Background</h4>Previous studies have examined physical risk factors in relation to functional health, but less work has focused on the protective role of psychological and social factors. We examined the individual and joint protective contribution of control beliefs, social support and physical exercise to changes in functional health, beyond the influence of health status and physical risk factors in middle-aged and older adults. Given that functional health typically declines throughout a ...[more]

PMID: 20949016

Similar Datasets

Project description:IntroductionDecline in physical function varies substantially across older individuals due to several extrinsic modifiable factors such as dietary patterns, physical activity and social support. We aimed to determine the association of these factors and their interaction with mobility and muscle strength decline.MethodsWe analyzed data from 1686 functionally healthy individuals aged 60 + from the population-based Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K). The Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) was calculated based on a validated food frequency questionnaire. Self-reported physical activity was categorized based on current recommendations, and social support was measured according to participants' perceived material and psychological support from relatives and friends. Participants' physical function was assessed over 12 years through changes in walking speed (m/s) and chair stand time (s). Linear mixed models adjusted for socio-demographic and clinical factors were used. In order to explore the combined effect of the different exposures, two indicator variables were created by cross-classifying individuals' levels of Mediterranean diet adherence and social support or physical activity.ResultsParticipants with a high adherence to Mediterranean diet were primarily < 78 years (82.3%), women (56.1%), married (61.1%), with university education (52.8%), high levels of social support (39.3%) and health-enhancing levels of physical activity (51.5%). A one-point increase in MDS (score range 0-9) was associated with less annual deterioration in walking speed (β*time[year] = 0.001; p = 0.024) and chair-stand time (β*time[year] = -0.014; p = 0.008). The potential protective effect of Mediterranean diet was highest among participants reporting high social support (β*time[year] = -0.065, p = 0.026 for chair stands) and high physical activity (β*time[year] = 0.010, p = 0.001 for walking speed), beyond the effect of each exposure individually.ConclusionA higher adherence to Mediterranean diet, especially in combination with recommended levels of physical activity and high social support, may contribute to delay the decline in physical function observed with aging.

Project description:Background:Previous physical activity (PA) tracking studies have examined the stability of overall PA and/or PA types, but few have investigated how specific types of sport/exercise track over the life course. The aim of this study was to determine how specific sports/exercises in midlife track and predict future sport/exercise and PA in men transitioning to old age. Methods:Seven thousand seven hundred thirty-five men (aged 40-59?years) recruited in 1978-80 were followed up after 12, 16 and 20?years. At each wave men self-reported participation in sport/exercise. Frequent sport/exercise participants (>?1/month) reported the types of sport/exercise they engaged in. Men also reported total PA, health status, lifestyle behaviours and socio-demographic characteristics. Stability of each sport/exercise was assessed using kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients. Logistic regression estimated the odds of participating in sport/exercise and being active at 20-year follow up according to specific types of sport/exercise in midlife. Results:Three thousand three hundred eighty-four men with complete data at all waves were included in analyses. Tracking of specific sports/exercises ranged from fair to substantial, with golf being the most common and most stable. Bowls was the most frequently adopted. Odds of participating in sport/exercise and being active in old age varied according to sport/exercise types in midlife. Golf and bowls in midlife were the strongest predictors of sport/exercise participation in old age. Golf, cricket and running/jogging in midlife were among the strongest predictors of being active in old age. Compared to participating in just one sport/exercise in midlife, sampling multiple sports/exercises was more strongly associated with sport/exercise participation and being active in old age. Conclusion:The stability of sport/exercise participation from midlife to old age varies by type. Specific sports/exercises in midlife may be more likely to predict future PA than others. However, participating in a range of sports/exercises may be optimal for preserving PA into old age.

Project description:ObjectivesTo examine cumulative associations between midlife health behaviors and walking speed and upper-limb strength in early old age.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingWhitehall II Study.ParticipantsIndividuals (mean age 49.1 ± 5.9 in 1991-93) with health behavior data for at least two of the three assessments (1991-93, 1997-99, 2002-04) and physical functioning measures in 2007-09 (mean age 65.9 ± 5.9) (N = 5,671).MeasurementsA trained nurse assessed walking speed and upper-limb strength. Unhealthy behaviors were defined as current or recent smoking, nonmoderate alcohol consumption (abstinence or heavy drinking), fruit and vegetable consumption less than twice per day, and physical inactivity (<1 h/wk of moderate and <1 h/wk of vigorous physical activity). For each unhealthy behavior, a cumulative score was calculated as the number of times a person reported the behavior over the three assessments divided by 3. The score ranged between 0 (never) and 1 (all three times).ResultsIn linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, and height, all unhealthy behaviors in 1991-93 were associated with slower walking speed in 2007-09, with differences ranging from 0.10 (nonmoderate alcohol consumption) to 0.25 (physical inactivity) of a standard deviation between participants with and without the unhealthy behavior (Pt-test <.001). For walking speed, the accumulation-of-risk model provided the best fit for unhealthy diet (β for a 1-point increment in the low fruit and vegetable consumption score = -0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.36 to -0.22) and physical inactivity (β = -0.37, 95% CI = -0.45 to -0.29). For smoking and nonmoderate alcohol consumption, a cumulative effect was also observed, but partial F-tests did not suggest that it provided a better fit than models with behaviors in 1991-93, 1997-99, or 2002-04. All behavioral scores except smoking were associated with grip strength, but F-tests supported the accumulation-of-risk hypothesis only for physical inactivity.ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of duration of unhealthy behaviors, particularly for diet and physical activity, when examining associations with physical functioning.

Dataset Information

Promoting functional health in midlife and old age: long-term protective effects of control beliefs, social support, and physical exercise.

Background

Methodology/principal findings

Conclusion/significance

Publications

Promoting functional health in midlife and old age: long-term protective effects of control beliefs, social support, and physical exercise.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets