Effect of social networks on 10 year survival in very old Australians: the Australian longitudinal study of aging

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dc.contributor.authorGiles, L.
dc.contributor.authorGlonek, G.
dc.contributor.authorLuszcz, M.
dc.contributor.authorAndrews, G.
dc.date.issued2005
dc.description© 2005 BMJ Publishing Group
dc.description.abstractStudy objectives: To examine if social networks with children, relatives, friends, and confidants predict survival in older Australians over 10 years after controlling for a range of demographic, health, and lifestyle variables. Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study (the Australian longitudinal study of aging) Setting: Adelaide, South Australia. Participants: 1477 persons aged 70 years or more living in the community and residential care facilities. Main results: After controlling for a range of demographic, health, and lifestyle variables, greater networks with friends were protective against mortality in the 10 year follow up period. The hazard ratio for participants in the highest tertile of friends networks compared with participants in the lowest group was 0.78 (95%CI 0.65 to 0.92). A smaller effect of greater networks with confidants (hazard ratio = 0.84; 95%CI = 0.71 to 0.98) was seen. The effects of social networks with children and relatives were not significant with respect to survival over the following decade. Conclusions: Survival time may be enhanced by strong social networks. Among older Australians, these may be important in lengthening survival.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityLynne C Giles, Gary F V Glonek, Mary A Luszcz and Gary R Andrews
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2005; 59(7):574-579
dc.identifier.doi10.1136/jech.2004.025429
dc.identifier.issn0143-005X
dc.identifier.issn1470-2738
dc.identifier.orcidGiles, L. [0000-0001-9054-9088]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/17827
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBritish Med Journal Publ Group
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2004.025429
dc.subjectmortality
dc.subjectsocial networks
dc.subjectsocial environment
dc.titleEffect of social networks on 10 year survival in very old Australians: the Australian longitudinal study of aging
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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