Social interaction and physical activity in 6,401 older women: concurrent and 9-year prospective associations
Author(s)
van Uffelen, Jannique
Heesch, Kristiann C
van Gellecum, Yolanda R
Burton, Nicola W
Pachana, Nancy A
Brown, Wendy J
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2018
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Introduction: Although social support, including social interaction, and physical activity (PA) are important determinants of healthy ageing, the association between social interaction and PA in older women is unclear.
Method: Data were from 6,401 community-dwelling women, aged 73-78 years in 1999, who completed mail surveys in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2008. The association between social interaction (Duke Scale; range 4-12 points; higher score indicates more interaction) and PA (Active Australia questionnaire; categorised as none, some, meeting guidelines) was assessed using random intercept multivariable mixed models. ...
View more >Introduction: Although social support, including social interaction, and physical activity (PA) are important determinants of healthy ageing, the association between social interaction and PA in older women is unclear. Method: Data were from 6,401 community-dwelling women, aged 73-78 years in 1999, who completed mail surveys in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2008. The association between social interaction (Duke Scale; range 4-12 points; higher score indicates more interaction) and PA (Active Australia questionnaire; categorised as none, some, meeting guidelines) was assessed using random intercept multivariable mixed models. Fully-adjusted concurrent and prospective models were run with PA as the outcome. Bidirectional associations were tested in prospective models with social support as the outcome. Results: Concurrently, for every 1-point increase in social interaction score there was a 27% (95%CI: 23%-32%) increased likelihood of being in a higher PA category (p < 0.001). Prospectively, there was a 17% (12%-22%) increased likelihood (p < 0.001). The prospective association of PA with social interaction was small but significant: older women who did any PA scored 0.10 (0.04-0.16) points higher on future social interaction than those who did none (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Social interaction is positively associated with current and future PA levels in older community-dwelling women. A small part of this can be explained by a bidirectional association. These findings emphasize the importance of strategies for increasing social interaction in older women and the inclusion of these strategies in interventions aimed at increasing PA.
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View more >Introduction: Although social support, including social interaction, and physical activity (PA) are important determinants of healthy ageing, the association between social interaction and PA in older women is unclear. Method: Data were from 6,401 community-dwelling women, aged 73-78 years in 1999, who completed mail surveys in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2008. The association between social interaction (Duke Scale; range 4-12 points; higher score indicates more interaction) and PA (Active Australia questionnaire; categorised as none, some, meeting guidelines) was assessed using random intercept multivariable mixed models. Fully-adjusted concurrent and prospective models were run with PA as the outcome. Bidirectional associations were tested in prospective models with social support as the outcome. Results: Concurrently, for every 1-point increase in social interaction score there was a 27% (95%CI: 23%-32%) increased likelihood of being in a higher PA category (p < 0.001). Prospectively, there was a 17% (12%-22%) increased likelihood (p < 0.001). The prospective association of PA with social interaction was small but significant: older women who did any PA scored 0.10 (0.04-0.16) points higher on future social interaction than those who did none (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Social interaction is positively associated with current and future PA levels in older community-dwelling women. A small part of this can be explained by a bidirectional association. These findings emphasize the importance of strategies for increasing social interaction in older women and the inclusion of these strategies in interventions aimed at increasing PA.
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Conference Title
Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Volume
15
Issue
s1
Subject
Sports science and exercise
Curriculum and pedagogy
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health