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Barclay R1, Webber S1, Ripat J2, Tate R3
1University of Manitoba, Physical Therapy, Winnipeg, Canada, 2University of Manitoba, Occupational Therapy, Winnipeg, Canada, 3University of Manitoba, Community Health Sciences, Winnipeg, Canada
Background: Although not universally defined, social participation, a determinant of health, can be described as having involvement and gaining satisfaction from that involvement, in social activities. Social participation has been positively associated with self-rated health, making it an important component of health and well-being in older adults.
Purpose: To identify factors associated with social participation in Canadians aged 45-85.
Methods: Data from the Tracking Main Wave and Maintaining Contact Questionnaires from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were used in this study. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed. The outcome was frequency of social participation in community-related activities, defined as not participating frequently (participating never, yearly or monthly) or participating frequently (participating weekly or daily). Explanatory variables included general health, depression, loneliness, satisfaction with life, number of chronic conditions, walking with aids, activities of daily living, ability to travel, shoulder movement, hand dexterity, ability to walk 2-3 blocks, standing up, rural/urban setting, sex, age, and marital status. Variables were chosen based on published literature. Models were controlled for province, income, month of evaluation and education. Models for the entire group, males and females were evaluated.
Results: In the all ages model (n=20,533), people were less likely to participate frequently if they had poor vs. excellent general health perception (odds ratio (OR) 0.56 [95%CI: 0.42,0.73]), were depressed all the time vs. rarely OR 0.66 [0.50,0.87], were lonely all the time vs. rarely OR 0.78 [0.61,0.99]), were extremely dissatisfied with life vs. extremely satisfied OR 0.25 [0.19,0.34], had difficulty walking 2-3 blocks OR 0.76 [0.65,0.89], lived rurally vs. urban OR 0.87 [0.79,0.96], were younger (45-54 years) OR 0.71 [0.61,0.83] or were divorced vs married OR 0.85 [0.73,0.98]. Those more likely to participate frequently were female OR 1.42 [1.29,1.55]. Female and male models varied in statistically significant associated factors. The female model (n=10,454) mirrored the overall model in the variables included. However, the male model (n=10,079) did not include depression, loneliness, marital status, rural/urban setting or walking ability. The male model additionally included decreased shoulder movement OR 0.78 [0.64, 0.94] as a factor associated with being less likely to participate frequently.
Conclusion(s): Factors associated with social participation vary for men and women. Some of these factors are amenable to improvement with rehabilitation intervention, such as the ability to walk 2-3 blocks and decreased shoulder movement. Other factors, such as perception of general health may be indirectly improved by rehabilitation intervention.
Implications: Being familiar with factors associated with social participation may assist physiotherapists to address those factors which could be changed with intervention, thereby improving social participation and quality of life in adults aged 45 and older. The findings have implications for rehabilitation and community programs focussed on the prevention of social participation limitations.
Keywords: Older adults, social participation
Funding acknowledgements: College of Rehabilitation Sciences Endowment Fund, University of Manitoba
Purpose: To identify factors associated with social participation in Canadians aged 45-85.
Methods: Data from the Tracking Main Wave and Maintaining Contact Questionnaires from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were used in this study. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed. The outcome was frequency of social participation in community-related activities, defined as not participating frequently (participating never, yearly or monthly) or participating frequently (participating weekly or daily). Explanatory variables included general health, depression, loneliness, satisfaction with life, number of chronic conditions, walking with aids, activities of daily living, ability to travel, shoulder movement, hand dexterity, ability to walk 2-3 blocks, standing up, rural/urban setting, sex, age, and marital status. Variables were chosen based on published literature. Models were controlled for province, income, month of evaluation and education. Models for the entire group, males and females were evaluated.
Results: In the all ages model (n=20,533), people were less likely to participate frequently if they had poor vs. excellent general health perception (odds ratio (OR) 0.56 [95%CI: 0.42,0.73]), were depressed all the time vs. rarely OR 0.66 [0.50,0.87], were lonely all the time vs. rarely OR 0.78 [0.61,0.99]), were extremely dissatisfied with life vs. extremely satisfied OR 0.25 [0.19,0.34], had difficulty walking 2-3 blocks OR 0.76 [0.65,0.89], lived rurally vs. urban OR 0.87 [0.79,0.96], were younger (45-54 years) OR 0.71 [0.61,0.83] or were divorced vs married OR 0.85 [0.73,0.98]. Those more likely to participate frequently were female OR 1.42 [1.29,1.55]. Female and male models varied in statistically significant associated factors. The female model (n=10,454) mirrored the overall model in the variables included. However, the male model (n=10,079) did not include depression, loneliness, marital status, rural/urban setting or walking ability. The male model additionally included decreased shoulder movement OR 0.78 [0.64, 0.94] as a factor associated with being less likely to participate frequently.
Conclusion(s): Factors associated with social participation vary for men and women. Some of these factors are amenable to improvement with rehabilitation intervention, such as the ability to walk 2-3 blocks and decreased shoulder movement. Other factors, such as perception of general health may be indirectly improved by rehabilitation intervention.
Implications: Being familiar with factors associated with social participation may assist physiotherapists to address those factors which could be changed with intervention, thereby improving social participation and quality of life in adults aged 45 and older. The findings have implications for rehabilitation and community programs focussed on the prevention of social participation limitations.
Keywords: Older adults, social participation
Funding acknowledgements: College of Rehabilitation Sciences Endowment Fund, University of Manitoba
Topic: Older people
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Manitoba
Ethics committee: Health Research Ethics Board
Ethics number: HS19757(H2016:198)
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
