Social interaction trajectories and all-cause mortality in older adults: the Otassha study

Abstract

IntroductionThis longitudinal study aimed to identify aging trajectory patterns of social interaction by sex and determine the association between these patterns and all-cause mortality.MethodsParticipants were 4,065 community-dwelling older adults (1849 men) in Japan, aged 65–89 years, who responded twice or more to a mail survey conducted between 2012 and 2020. Social interaction was examined through the frequency of face-to-face and non-face-to-face contact with non-resident family and friends. The aging trajectories of the social interaction scores were identified using group-based trajectory modeling.ResultsTwo groups were identified among both men and women. Among men with high-frequency interaction, a rapid decrease in the frequency of social interaction was observed after 80 years of age. Conversely, among women, the frequency tended to remain the same, even after 80 years of age. The social interaction score among those aged 65 years in the low-frequency group was approximately 4 points for men and 6 points for women. Among men, no decrease was observed; however, it tended to decline after 85 years of age among women. Among men, the factors associated with the low-frequency group were instrumental activities of daily living score, perceived financial status, and social participation, while among women, they were self-rated health and social participation. The adjusted hazard ratio in the low-frequency group for all-cause mortality was 1.72 (95% confidence interval, 1.27–1.72) for men and 1.45 (95% confidence interval, 0.98–2.14) for women.DiscussionIn the low-frequency group, men had a higher risk of all-cause mortality than women. Daily social interaction from mid-age is important to reduce the risk of social isolation and all-cause mortality in later life.

Aging trajectories of subscales in higher-level functional capacity among community-dwelling older Japanese adults: the Otassha study

“…A previous study reported that social function declines more slowly than physical function [ 26 ]. Our previous study suggested that social interaction is maintained in old age [ 15 ]. However, regarding the pattern of the rapid decline in SR, the SR question on the TMIG-IC could have included awareness of the social support provided, such as being called on for advice, visiting sick friends, and initiating conversations with young people.…”

“…Follow-up mail surveys were conducted in October 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The mail survey for this cohort was published elsewhere [ 2 , 14 , 15 ]. The mail survey for this cohort includes a space to indicate whether the person is completing the survey independently or if a family member completed it for them.…”

“…Perceived financial status was evaluated using five options: very comfortable , slightly comfortable , neither comfortable nor hard , slightly hard , and very hard . Social participation was examined in several activity groups, including neighborhood associations, senior citizen clubs, hobby groups, sports groups, and volunteer groups [ 15 ].…”