Cohort Profile: The German Ageing Survey (DEAS)

Riedel‐Heller

2019

Objectives: There is a lack of longitudinal studies, which are both based on nationally representative samples and use standardized instruments to quantify social isolation.Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the link between perceived social isolation and cognitive functioning longitudinally.Methods/Design: Longitudinal data with n = 6420 from 2014 (wave 5) to 2017 (wave 6) were drawn from the German Ageing Survey (nationally representative sample of individuals aged 40 years and over). Perceived social isolation was assessed using a scale by Bude and Lantermann. Cognitive functioning was quantified using the established digit symbol test. To reduce the problem of unobserved heterogeneity, linear fixed effects regressions were used.Results: Regressions showed that increases in perceived social isolation were associated with decreases in cognitive functioning. With regard to covariates, decreases in cognitive functioning were associated with increases in aging and worsening selfrated health, whereas changes in marital status, employment status, income, physical functioning, and physical illnesses were not associated with the outcome measure.Conclusions: Based on a nationally representative sample and exploiting the panel data structure, the study findings extend current knowledge by showing that increasing perceived social isolation contributes to decreases in cognitive functioning among individuals aged 40 years and over longitudinally. Future longitudinal studies based on panel data methods are required to validate the study findings. K E Y W O R D Scognition, cognitive functioning, social disconnectedness, social exclusion, social isolation | INTRODUCTIONIt is widely acknowledged that there is an ongoing change in the demographic structure of industrialized countries, meaning that the number of individuals in late life is increasing continuously. It is also widely understood that age is associated with decreases in cognitive functioning.Moreover, higher age is associated with increased social isolation. 1 Cognitive functioning 2 and social isolation 3 are both associated with subsequent morbidity and mortality, highlighting the importance of these factors.Social isolation is linked to decreased social activities or social engagement, which, in turn, can stimulate cognitive functioning. 4An association between social isolation and cognitive functioning has been demonstrated by recent cross-sectional 5 and longitudinal studies. 6,7 For example, it has been shown that social isolation is related to decreased cognitive function based on data from a Spanish nationally representative sample (n = 1691; individuals ≥50 years; two waves). Similar findings were made by Evans et al based on longitudinal data from the Cognitive Function and

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived social isolation and cognitive functioning. Longitudinal findings based on the German Ageing Survey

Riedel‐Heller

2019

“…25 Moreover, the DEAS is performing intensive panel maintenance to mitigate panel attrition. In order to ensure the representativeness of the sample in the following waves, groups expected to contribute to panel attrition, such as the oldest age group, were purposefully oversampled in the DEAS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to ensure the representativeness of the sample in the following waves, groups expected to contribute to panel attrition, such as the oldest age group, were purposefully oversampled in the DEAS. 25,26 As weights can negatively influence the estimates in their efficiency, 27 they were not applied to this study. 26 In line with this, central sociodemographic characteristics in the DEAS are very similar to official statistics of the German population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The longitudinal association of multimorbidity on loneliness and network size: Findings from a population‐based study

Kristensen

2019

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the onset of multimorbidity with loneliness and social network size longitudinally. Methods Longitudinal data was used from the German Ageing Survey, a representative sample of adults aged 40 and over, residing in private households. The presence of two or more illnesses indicated multimorbidity. A 6‐item version of the validated De Jong Gierveld Loneliness scale was used to assess perceived loneliness. The network size of respondents was represented by counts of important people in regular contact. Fixed‐effects regressions adjusted for time‐varying socio‐demographic, life style, and health‐related variables were used. Results The regression analysis yielded, when controlling for possible confounders, that the onset of multimorbidity led to increased loneliness (β = .06, p < .001). However, the results revealed as well that the onset of multimorbidity was associated with an increased network size (β = .29, p < .001). Conclusion Results demonstrate a complex relationship of the variables examined. Efforts to target multimorbidity, eg, to postpone or prevent it, could be helpful to decrease loneliness.

What are the psychosocial consequences when fear of falling starts or ends? Evidence from an asymmetric fixed effects analysis based on longitudinal data from the general population

2020

The purpose of this study was to identify whether the onset and the end of fear of falling (FOF) are associated with psychosocial consequences (in terms of depressive symptoms, loneliness, social isolation, autonomy, and subjective wellbeing). Methods/Design: Longitudinal data for this study were taken from the nationally representative German Ageing Survey which included community-dwelling individuals ≥40 years (wave 5 and wave 6). Psychosocial outcome measures were assessed using widely established and well-validated scales. The presence of FOF was used as the main explanatory variable. It was adjusted for age, family status, labor force participation, self-rated health, physical functioning, as well as the number of chronic conditions. Results: Linear fixed effects regressions revealed that FOF was associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes (increased depressive symptoms, lower life satisfaction, lower positive affect, higher negative affect, and lower perceived autonomy). Asymmetric fixed effects regressions analysis showed that the onset of FOF was associated with reduced life satisfaction as well as reduced autonomy, whereas the end of FOF was associated with reduced depressive symptoms, decreased loneliness scores, as well as decreased negative affect. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that future studies should analyze the consequences of FOF differently (onset and end of FOF) which has practical important implications. More specifically, while strategies to avoid the onset of FOF may help to maintain satisfaction with life and autonomy, strategies to end FOF may contribute to avoid increased loneliness, feelings of negative affect, as well as increased depressive symptoms.