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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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Open Access 01-08-2020 | Affective Disorder | Original Paper

The prospective association between frequency of contact with friends and relatives and quality of life in older adults from Central and Eastern Europe

Authors: Eliazar Luna, Milagros Ruiz, Sofia Malyutina, Anastasiya Titarenko, Magdalena Kozela, Andrzej Pająk, Ruzena Kubinova, Martin Bobak

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 8/2020

Abstract

Purpose

Studies suggest that frequent contact with friends and relatives promote mental wellbeing in later life, but most evidence comes from Western populations. We investigated the prospective relationship between frequency of contact with friends and relatives and quality of life (QoL) among older Central and Eastern European (CEE) adults and whether depressive symptoms mediated the hypothesised longitudinal relationship.

Methods

Data from 6106 participants from the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) study were used. Frequency of contact with friends and relatives was measured at baseline. QoL, at baseline and follow-up, was measured by the Control, Autonomy, Self-realisation, and Pleasure (CASP) 12-item scale. After assessing the prospective association using multivariable linear regression, the mediational hypothesis was tested using path analysis.

Results

There was a significant prospective association between frequency of contact with friends and relatives and CASP-12 score (0–36) in fully adjusted models. Per every one unit increase in frequency of contact, there was a 0.12 (95% CI 0.06, 0.17) increase in CASP-12 score at follow-up, accounting for sociodemographic, health-related and baseline QoL. Pathway results showed that 81% of the longitudinal effect of frequency of contact on QoL was mediated through depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Frequent contact with friends and relatives improves QoL of older Central and Eastern European adults, partly through buffering against depressive symptoms. Interventions to improve QoL at older ages should incorporate effective management of common mental disorders such as depression.

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Title: The prospective association between frequency of contact with friends and relatives and quality of life in older adults from Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Eliazar Luna
Milagros Ruiz
Sofia Malyutina
Anastasiya Titarenko
Magdalena Kozela
Andrzej Pająk
Ruzena Kubinova
Martin Bobak
Publication date: 01-08-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Affective Disorder
Affective Disorder
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 8/2020
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01834-8

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

The prospective association between frequency of contact with friends and relatives and quality of life in older adults from Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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