Subjective memory complaints and social participation among older adults: results from the health and retirement study

Subjective Memory Complaints Predict Decline in Memory, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, and Social Participation in Older Adults: A Fixed-Effects Model

“…There are two possible reasons for this relationship. As mentioned earlier, because of the fear of embarrassing moments triggered by SMCs, people may avoid participating in cognitively demanding social activities ( Lee et al., 2021 ). Another possible reason is that SMCs are actually early indicators of cognitive impairment and may be more sensitive than cognitive tests ( Cleary, 1997 ).…”

“…SMCs may predict future social participation restrictions in older adults because people’s increased concern about their memory may trigger fear of embarrassing situations that may occur because of memory issues during interpersonal interactions. This fear may then lead to an attempt to prevent embarrassing moments by avoiding circumstances that demand memory, such as social activities ( Lee et al., 2021 ). Only one study has investigated the association between SMCs and social participation restrictions, and it found that SMCs are associated with social participation after controlling for demographic, health-related, and environmental factors in older adults, yet it is unknown whether SMCs predict social participation restrictions ( Lee et al., 2021 ).…”

“…This fear may then lead to an attempt to prevent embarrassing moments by avoiding circumstances that demand memory, such as social activities ( Lee et al., 2021 ). Only one study has investigated the association between SMCs and social participation restrictions, and it found that SMCs are associated with social participation after controlling for demographic, health-related, and environmental factors in older adults, yet it is unknown whether SMCs predict social participation restrictions ( Lee et al., 2021 ). Therefore, to identify the aforementioned potential implications of SMCs for social participation, this study examined whether SMCs predict future social participation decline.…”

“…prevalence may be because SMCs are determined by self-assessment and influenced by mood and so may develop and disappear over time and in various situations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019; Vlachos et al, 2019). SMCs are a particular concern among older adults, because they are associated with poor functional outcomes, particularly cognitive impairment, limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and social participation restrictions (Burmester et al, 2016;Cordier et al, 2019;Lee et al, 2021). Lee's (2021) conceptual framework can help explain the association of SMCs with cognitive impairment, IADL limitations, and social participation restrictions.…”

Association Between Social Participation and Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Adults

“…The suggested definition of social participation is the participation of an individual in meaningful activities that provide social interactions (Levasseur et al, 2022). Regular participation in social gatherings, leisure activities, volunteering, and related activities has been associated with decreased mortality (Saito et al, 2021), better self-rated health (Lee, Park, et al, 2021; Lin, 2017), and less decline in mental health (Sharifian & Grühn, 2019).…”