Dataset Information

Relationship of smoking with current and future social isolation and loneliness: 12-year follow-up of older adults in England.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Smoking 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.

Methods

In 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.

Findings

At 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.

Interpretation

Smoking 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.

Funding

UK Economic and Social Research Council & Imperial College London.

SUBMITTER: Philip KE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8743222 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:OBJECTIVES:To (1) estimate the combined risks of cigarette smoking and physical inactivity for chronic disease, disability and depressive symptoms and (2) determine whether risks associated with these behaviours are additive or synergistic. DESIGN AND SETTING:Longitudinal observational population study using data from Waves 2 (2004/2005) through 8 (2016/2017) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a prospective study of community-dwelling older adults in England. PARTICIPANTS:6425 men and women aged ?52 years (mean (SD) 65.88 (9.34) years) at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Smoking status (never, former, current) and level of physical activity (high, defined as moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) more than once a week; low, defined as MVPA once a week or less) were self-reported at Wave 2 baseline. Self-rated health, limiting long-standing illness, chronic conditions (coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, cancer, chronic lung disease) and depressive symptoms were reported in each biennial wave. RESULTS:Both smoking and low levels of physical activity were associated with increased risk of incident health problems over the 12-year follow-up period. Current smokers with low levels of physical activity had especially high risks of developing fair/poor self-rated health, CHD, stroke, cancer and chronic lung disease compared with highly active never smokers (adjusted relative risk range 1.89-14.00). While additive effects were evident, tests of multiplicative interactions revealed no evidence of large synergistic effects of smoking and low physical activity (Bayes factor range 0.04-0.61), although data were insensitive to detect smaller effects. CONCLUSIONS:Among older adults in England, there was no evidence of large synergistic effects of smoking and low levels of physical activity on risk of developing chronic disease or depressive symptoms over 12 years. However, additive effects of smoking and low levels of physical activity were evident, underscoring the importance of each of these lifestyle risk behaviours for disease onset.