Gender differences in the effect of social support on health-related quality of life: results of a population-based prospective cohort study in old age in Germany

Purpose The causality between social predictors and HRQoL in old age remains almost unclear as only a few studies have examined the influence of social support on HRQoL in a longitudinal setting. Moreover, available studies investigating gender differences in the effect of social support on HRQoL in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quality of life research 2016-05, Vol.25 (5), p.1159-1168
Main Authors: Hajek, André, Brettschneider, Christian, Lange, Carolin, Posselt, Tina, Wiese, Birgitt, Steinmann, Susanne, Weyerer, Siegfried, Werle, Jochen, Pentzek, Michael, Fuchs, Angela, Stein, Janine, Luck, Tobias, Bickel, Horst, Mösch, Edelgard, Wolfsgruber, Steffen, Heser, Kathrin, Maier, Wolfgang, Scherer, Martin, Riedel-Heller, Steffi G., König, Hans-Helmut
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
CLINICAL AND POLICY APPLICATIONS
Cohort analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dementia
Estimators
Female
Gender differences
Germany
Health
Health economics
Health Services
Health Status
Humans
Longitudinal studies
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Memory
Men
Mental health
Older adults
Older people
Pain Measurement
Participation
Population
Prospective Studies
Public Health
Quality of Life
Quality of Life Research
Questionnaires
Self Report
Sex Factors
Social Support
Sociology
Women
Womens health
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Summary:Purpose The causality between social predictors and HRQoL in old age remains almost unclear as only a few studies have examined the influence of social support on HRQoL in a longitudinal setting. Moreover, available studies investigating gender differences in the effect of social support on HRQoL in old age have been solely cross-sectional. Consequently, the aim of this study was to examine whether social support affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in old age and whether this effect is moderated by gender. Methods In a population-based cohort (N = 2443) of people aged 75 years and older in Germany, the development of HRQoL was prospectively observed over a 3-year period. Quality of life was quantified by using the visual analogue scale of the EQ-5D instrument. Social support was assessed by using the 14-item form of the questionnaire for social support (F-SozU K-14). In order to control for unobserved heterogeneity, fixed-effects regression analysis was used. Results In the total sample (β = 0.55, p < 0.05) and in men (β = 1.39, p < 0.001), a strong positive impact of social support on HRQoL was found. There was no significant effect of social support on HRQoL in women. The effect of social support on HRQoL was significantly moderated by gender (p < 0.05). Conclusions Findings accentuate the fundamental role of social support in HRQoL in old age. Particularly in men, it is therefore crucial to strengthen the social ties in old age.
ISSN:0962-9343
1573-2649
DOI:10.1007/s11136-015-1166-5