Nutrition risk varies according to social network type: data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Abstract

ObjectiveThere were two primary objectives, namely: (1) to determine the social network types that Canadian adults aged 45 and older belong to and (2) to discover if social network type is associated with nutrition risk scores and the prevalence of high nutrition risk.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study.SettingData from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).Participants17 051 Canadians aged 45 years and older with data from baseline and first follow-up of the CLSA.ResultsCLSA participants could be classified into one of seven different social network types that varied from restricted to diverse. We found a statistically significant association between social network type and nutrition risk scores and percentage of individuals at high nutrition risk at both time points. Individuals with restricted social networks had lower nutrition risk scores and are more likely to be at nutrition risk, whereas individuals with diverse social networks had higher nutrition risk scores and are less likely to be at nutrition risk.ConclusionsSocial network type was associated with nutrition risk in this representative sample of Canadian middle-aged and older adults. Providing adults with opportunities to deepen and diversify their social networks may decrease the prevalence of nutrition risk. Individuals with more restricted networks should be proactively screened for nutrition risk.

Dietary behaviors of rural residents in northeastern China: implications for designing intervention information and targeting high-risk population

“…Second, this study focused only on nutritional knowledge and FHL as influencing factors of dietary behavior. However, in previous studies it has also been revealed that there are other factors that may have influenced dietary behaviors, such as social network type, self-efficacy, and food availability ( 86 , 87 ). In coming studies, psychosocial models and environmental factors could be considered to evaluate dietary behavior.…”

Perspective: Promoting Healthy Aging through Nutrition: A Research Centers Collaborative Network Workshop Report

“…Approximately 25% of adults aged ≥65 y are socially isolated [ 87 ]. Social isolation is associated with poorer nutrition [ 88 ] and is reported to be as detrimental to health [ 89 ] and mortality risk as other known risk factors [ 90 , 91 ]. As discussed earlier, studies in nonhuman primates demonstrate the detrimental effects of a poor dietary pattern on social isolation [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Social Factors Associated With Nutrition Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in High-Income Countries: Protocol for a Scoping Review

“…Many social factors are associated with nutrition risk in older adults in the literature [ 16 , 17 ]. These include, but are not limited to, social network type (restricted, diverse, family-focused, friend-focused, etc), living arrangement (alone or with others), social support (emotional, informational, tangible, and affectionate support), social engagement (engagement in social activities with others), and social participation (participation in community activities) [ 3 , 17 - 19 ]. It is well-established that eating with others improves dietary intake and reduces nutrition risk [ 16 ], whereas eating alone is associated with high nutrition risk [ 16 , 20 ].…”