Longevity and relationships with children: the importance of the parental role

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Social networks predict longevity across societies but specific mechanisms are largely unknown. The aim of this work was to examine the role of children in the longevity of elderly men and women in a cohort of community dwelling elderly people in Spain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The data were taken from the "Aging in Leganes" cohort study with 15 years of follow-up. The baseline population was an age- and sex-stratified random sample of community dwelling people over 65 living in Leganés (Madrid) in 1993. Poor relationship with at least one child, emotional support and the perceived roles elders play in the lives of their children, extended family, spouse and friends were assessed at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to investigate the effects of social roles variables on longevity, adjusting for a wide range of socioeconomic, behavioural and health covariates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the fully adjusted model, having a poor relationship with at least one child increased mortality by 30%. Elderly persons who felt their role in their children's lives was important (HR = 0.70; 95% CI 0.54; 0.91) had a lower mortality risk than those who felt they played a small role. Feeling loved and listened to by one's children did not have an effect on survival. Maintaining an important role in the extended family was also significantly associated with survival.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this Mediterranean population, maintaining an important role in the lives of one's children is associated with survival. Functions of social networks related to meaning of life and different forms of social support may have important effects on mortality, and these functions may vary across cultures according to family norms and values.</p

The effect of social relationships on survival in elderly residents of a Southern European community: a cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Comparative evidence regarding the effects of social relationships on mortality in Mediterranean communities will increase our knowledge of their strengths and the ways in which they influence longevity across cultures. Men and women may benefit differently from social relationships because of cultural differences in gender roles. Psychosocial mechanisms such as social support, which may explain the effects of social networks, may also vary by culture.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Detailed information on the social relationships of a representative sample of 1,174 community-dwelling older adults was collected in Leganés, a city in central Spain. Mortality over a 6-year follow-up period was ascertained. Information on socio-demographic, health and disability variables was also collected. Cox proportional hazards models were fitted separately for men and women and for the combined sample.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Having a confidant was associated with a 25% (95% CI 5–40%) reduction in the mortality risk. The hazard ratio for lack of social participation was 1.5 (95% CI 1.3–1.7). Being engaged in meaningful roles protected against mortality, while receipt of emotional support did not affect survival. These results were comparable for men and women. Having contact with all family ties was associated with reduced mortality only in men. Structural aspects of social networks make a unique contribution to survival, independently of emotional support and the role played in the lives of significant others.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this elderly Southern European population, the beneficial effects of social networks, social participation, engagement in the life of significant others and having a confidant call for public policies that foster intergenerational and community exchanges.</p

Relações sociais e autopercepção da saúde: projeto envelhecimento e saúde Social relations and self- rated health: the ageing and health project

OBJETIVO: Investigar a associação entre as relações sociais e a autopercepção da saúde em idosos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de amostra representativa de idosos cobertos pelo Programa de Saúde da Família e residentes em uma área de alta vulnerabilidade para a saúde em Belo Horizonte, MG. As informações foram obtidas por meio de entrevista estruturada. Idosos que relataram autopercepção ruim ou muito ruim da saúde foram comparados aos demais e os fatores associados foram determinados por meio de regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS: 363 dos 371 idosos elegíveis participaram do estudo. A autopercepção ruim da saúde foi relatada por 17,1% dos idosos e foi positivamente associada com o número de doenças crônicas e o grau de dificuldade para realizar as atividades de vida diária, apresentando um gradiente dose resposta. Idosos com auto-avaliação negativa dos relacionamentos pessoais e que não podiam contar com alguém caso ficassem acamados tiveram mais chance de autoperceber sua saúde como ruim. Trabalhar foi associado negativamente com a autopercepção ruim da saúde. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados encontrados corroboram a estrutura multidimensional da autopercepção da saúde englobando fatores sociodemográficos, aspectos relacionados à saúde e às relações sociais e reforçam o papel dessas últimas sobre a saúde.<br>OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between social relationships and self-perceived health in the elderly. METHODS: cross-sectional study of a representative sample of elderly individuals covered by the Family Health Program and residents in an area of high health vulnerability in Belo Horizonte, MG. Information was obtained through structured interviews. Factors associated with poor or very poor self-perceived health were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 363 out of 371 eligible elderly participated; 17.1% of elderly self-perceived their health as poor. There was a positive dose-response relationship between poor self-perceived health and the number of chronic diseases and the degree of difficulty to perform daily life activities. Elderly individuals who perceived their personal relationships as bad and who could not count on anyone if they became bedridden were more likely to self-rate their health as poor. Working was negatively associated with self-perceived poor health. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the multidimensional structure of self-perceived health including the issues related to health and social relationships. Our results strengthen the role of social relations on health

Electroweak parameters of the z0 resonance and the standard model

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