Dataset Information

Cross-national comparison of social isolation and mortality among older adults: A 10-year follow-up study in Japan and England.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Existing evidence links social isolation with poor health. To examine differences in the mortality risk by social isolation, and in socio-economic correlates of social isolation, we analyzed large-scale cohort studies in Japan and England.

Methods

Participants were drawn from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). We analyzed the 10-year mortality among 15?313 JAGES participants and 5124 ELSA respondents. Social isolation was measured by two scales, i.e., scoring the frequency of contact with close ties, and a composite measurement of social isolation risk. We calculated the population attributable fraction, and Cox regression models with multiple imputations were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality due to social isolation.

Results

The proportion of those with contact frequency of less than once a month was 8.5% in JAGES and 1.3% in ELSA. Males, older people, those with poor self-rated health, and unmarried people were significantly associated with social isolation in both countries. Both scales showed that social isolation among older adults had a remarkably higher risk for premature death (less frequent contact with others in JAGES: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.33, in ELSA: HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.85-1.89; and high isolation risk score in JAGES: HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12-1.50, in ELSA: HR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.52-2.73). The population attributable fraction showed less frequent contact with close ties was attributed to about 18?000 premature deaths annually in Japan, in contrast with about 1800 in England.

Conclusions

Negative health impacts of social isolation were higher among older Japanese compared with those in England. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 209-214.

SUBMITTER: Saito M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7898799 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Cross-national comparison of social isolation and mortality among older adults: A 10-year follow-up study in Japan and England.

Saito Masashige M Aida Jun J Cable Noriko N Zaninotto Paola P Ikeda Takaaki T Tsuji Taishi T Koyama Shihoko S Noguchi Taiji T Osaka Ken K Kondo Katsunori K

Geriatrics & gerontology international 20201221 2

<h4>Aim</h4>Existing evidence links social isolation with poor health. To examine differences in the mortality risk by social isolation, and in socio-economic correlates of social isolation, we analyzed large-scale cohort studies in Japan and England.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants were drawn from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). We analyzed the 10-year mortality among 15 313 JAGES participants and 5124 ELSA respondents. Social i ...[more]

PMID: 33350047

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundSmoking is often colloquially considered "social". However, the actual relationship of smoking with current and future social isolation and loneliness is unclear. We therefore examined these relationships over a 12-year follow-up.MethodsIn this cohort study, we used a nationally representative sample of community dwelling adults aged 50 years and over from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N=8780) (45% male, mean(SD) age 67(10) years. We examined associations of self-reported smoking status at baseline assessment, with social isolation (low social contact, social disengagement, domestic isolation), and loneliness (3-item UCLA loneliness scale), measured at baseline, and follow-up at 4, 8 and 12 years, using ordinary least squares regression models.FindingsAt baseline, smokers were more likely to be lonely (coef.=0·111, 95% CI 0·025 - 0·196) and socially isolated than non-smokers, having less frequent social interactions with family and friends (coef.= 0·297, 95%CI 0·148 - 0·446), less frequent engagement with community and cultural activities (coef.= 0·534, 95%CI 0·421 - 0·654), and being more likely to live alone (Odds Ratio =1·400, 95%CI 1·209 - 1·618). Smoking at baseline was associated with larger reductions in social contact (coef.=0·205, 95%CI 0·053 - 0·356, to 0·297, 95%CI 0·140 - 0·455), increases in social disengagement (coef.=0·168, 95%CI 0·066 - 0·270, to coef.=0·197, 95%CI 0·087 - 0·307), and increases in loneliness (coef.=0·105, 95%CI 0·003 - 0·207), at 4-year follow-up) over time. No association was found between smoking and changes in cohabitation status. Findings were independent of all identified confounders, including age, sex, social class and the presence of physical and mental health diagnoses.InterpretationSmoking is associated with the development of increasing social isolation and loneliness in older adults, suggesting smoking is detrimental to aspects of psychosocial health. The idea that smoking might be prosocial appears a misconception.FundingUK Economic and Social Research Council & Imperial College London.

Dataset Information

Cross-national comparison of social isolation and mortality among older adults: A 10-year follow-up study in Japan and England.

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Cross-national comparison of social isolation and mortality among older adults: A 10-year follow-up study in Japan and England.

Similar Datasets

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