Association between community-level social trust and the risk of dementia: A retrospective cohort study in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

IntroductionIt is known that biological risk factors and lifestyle behaviors are important determinants of dementia. However, there has been yet to be sufficient evidence to prove that community-level social capital is one of the determinants of dementia. This retrospective cohort study is a large, long-term, population-based study that investigated the association between community-level social trust and the risk of dementia in the Republic of Korea.MethodsData came from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The community-level social trust values were determined by the Korean Community Health Survey. The study population consisted of 1,974,944 participants over 50 years of age and was followed up from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2019 with a latent period of 5 years from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. Cox proportional hazards regression was utilized to obtain the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of dementia according to social trust quintiles.ResultsParticipants within the highest quintile of community-level social trust had a lower risk for overall dementia (aHR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86–0.94) and Alzheimer's disease (aHR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85–0.94) compared to those within the lowest quintile of community-level social trust. The alleviating trend association of high community-level social trust on dementia risk was maintained regardless of whether the participants had health examinations.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that higher community-level social trust is associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Community-level social trust is a crucial indicator of dementia and improving community-level social trust may lead to a lower risk of dementia.

Revisiting the influence of community social capital indices on child maltreatment rates: The moderating effects of place

“…Scholars often measure social trust as aggregated subjective indicators that capture the proportion of individuals who agree that most people can be trusted and/or are honest (Knack, 2002; Knack & Keefer, 1997; Putnam, 2000; Snelgrove et al, 2009), as well as the level of interpersonal trust (Rice, 2001). Using questions on social trust and reciprocity from KCHS, we measured social trust as the ratio of positive responses to the question ‘Do you trust the people in your neighborhood?’ in areas (Choi, Juhwan, et al, 2020; Hong & Park, 2021; Hong et al, 2022; Kawachi et al, 1997). Reciprocity in jurisdiction was measured by calculating the proportion of positive answers to the question, ‘Do you help neighbors with congratulations and condolences (e.g., weddings or funerals)?’ (Choi, Juhwan, et al, 2020).…”

“…Using questions on social trust and reciprocity from KCHS, we measured social trust as the ratio of positive responses to the question 'Do you trust the people in your neighborhood?' in areas (Choi, Juhwan, et al, 2020;Hong & Park, 2021;Hong et al, 2022;Kawachi et al, 1997). Reciprocity in jurisdiction was measured by calculating the proportion of positive answers to the question, 'Do you help neighbors with congratulations and condolences (e.g., weddings or funerals)?'…”

Subjective social status and health among older adults in China: the longitudinal mediating role of social trust

“…In addition, some scholars have revealed from a more macroscopic perspective that ST, as a form of policy intervention, is of great significance to the improvement of the health level of older adults [ 42 ]. The government provides medical and pension services for older adults to not only improve their health level, but also create an atmosphere of ST in the macro social environment, so that older adults have trust in the government [ 43 ].…”