The Effect of Social Support on Quality of Life of Persons With Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.6 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Since pharmacological treatments have yet to be developed, we want to determine whether the amount and quality of social support influence the quality of life (QoL) of persons with dementia so they can lead active and purposeful lives. We analyzed data from 22,030 individuals aged 50+ from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study cohort. The dependent variable, QoL, was measured as self-rated health. The main independent variable, cognitive status, was obtained through direct and proxy interview measurements of cognition. For social support, a composite score including the number of social contacts/close relationships and perceived social support/strain was created. Lastly, several covariates were included. Longitudinally, we examined how QoL changed between 2010 and 2012 using 3 stepwise regression models. Model 1 found those with normal cognition have lower odds of poor QoL vs. those with cognitive impairment (OR = 0.38, p <.0001), number of relationships and perceived social support decreases the odds of poor QoL (p = 0.003, p <.0001), while social strain increases the odds of poor QoL (p <.0001). Model 3 revealed similar findings but also, persons with comorbidities have increased odds of poor QoL (p <.0001), while persons with better function have decreased odds of poor QoL (p <.0001). In conclusion, these results can be used to design interventions to improve social support and reduce social strain, which can also improve QoL for dementia caregivers.

The relationship between big five personality and quality of life of people with disabilities: The mediating effect of social support

“…Social support has a buffering effect on stress and is important for maintaining a good mood. Some studies show that social support affects the QOL of patients with cognitive disorders ( Afunugo and Rafael, 2019 ), and improved social support may enhance the life quality of lung cancer patients ( Hofman et al, 2021 ). The higher the social support level of the elderly, the better the QOL ( Moghadam et al, 2020 ), patients with breast cancer ( Zhang et al, 2017 ), and hemodialysis patients ( Alexopoulou et al, 2016 ).…”

Supporting Persons With Dementia: Perspectives From Certified Nurse’s Assistants

“…Ignoring residents is not purely benign, in that it is both not person-centered ( Gilmore-Bykovskyi et al, 2015 ; Lann-Wolcott et al, 2011 ); and it suggests that the residents may have unmet needs, including social needs ( Fauth et al, 2020 ). In sum, increasing the number of positive social interactions is important, given their highly positive impact on residents’ quality of life ( Afunugo & Samper-Ternent, 2019 ; Beerens et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Quality of life is the multidimensional perception of one’s life, covering social, psychological, and physical aspects of overall well-being ( Brod et al, 1999 ). Components of quality of life for persons with ADRD include positive mood, engagement in pleasant activities, social support, and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs; Afunugo & Samper-Ternent, 2019 ; Kishita et al, 2020 ). Although each of these components contributes to the quality of life, residents in nursing homes have a limited ability to perform ADLs and are less able to engage in the pleasant activities they enjoyed prior to dementia and/or moving into residential care.…”

“…Social support is a key determinant of quality of life and well-being in humans throughout the life span ( Hajek et al, 2017 ; Kolanowski et al, 2012 ). Recent longitudinal research using data from the Health and Retirement Study shows that social support (both the number and quality of interactions) is a significant predictor of quality of life for persons with ADRD ( Afunugo & Samper-Ternent, 2019 ). Relatedly, person-centered care, which necessitates personal interaction, is associated with improved quality of life for persons with ADRD in long-term care communities ( Chenoweth et al, 2019 ).…”