Citation
Shartle, Kaitlin; Yang, Yang Claire; Richman, Laura Smart; Belsky, Daniel W.; Aiello, Allison E.; & Harris, Kathleen Mullan (2022). Social Relationships, Wealth, and Cardiometabolic Risk: Evidence from a National Longitudinal Study of U.S. Older Adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 34(6-8), 1048-1061. PMCID: PMC9489644Abstract
Objectives: To investigate multiple dimensions of social relationships related to biomarkers of cardiometabolic health and how their associations vary by wealth in older adults.Methods: Growth curve models were used to investigate the longitudinal associations between measures of both positive and negative social relationships and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2016 and the moderation of this association by wealth in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).
Results: Older adults with better social relationships had lower CMR on average. The protective effects of positive social relationships, however, waned at older ages, particularly for low-wealth individuals.
Discussion: Our results suggest that good social relationships promote healthy aging by buffering against harmful cardiometabolic consequences of psychosocial stress, particularly among relatively wealthy individuals. Efforts to improve old age health would be more effective when focusing simultaneously on fostering social connections and boosting financial resources.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/08982643221087807Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2022Journal Title
Journal of Aging and HealthAuthor(s)
Shartle, KaitlinYang, Yang Claire
Richman, Laura Smart
Belsky, Daniel W.
Aiello, Allison E.
Harris, Kathleen Mullan
Article Type
RegularPMCID
PMC9489644Data Set/Study
Health and Retirement Study (HRS)Continent/Country
United States of AmericaState
NonspecificORCiD
Aiello - 0000-0001-7029-2537Harris, KM - 0000-0001-9757-1026
Yang, YC - 0000-0001-7279-1479