Social isolation and intrinsic capacity among older Hispanic adults in the United States: Exploring associations across geographic and social contexts

Abstract

Objectives We examined the association between social isolation (SI) and intrinsic capacity (IC) among older Hispanic adults in the United States and explored patterns of association across geographic and social subgroups. Methods Using 2022 Health and Retirement Study data, we analyzed 615 Hispanic adults aged ≥60 years. IC (0–10) was derived from five domains, and SI (0–4) was measured using a composite index. Survey-weighted linear regression models were used to estimate the overall association between SI and IC. Exploratory interaction models and subgroup-specific analyses examined patterns across region of residence, community of residence, and nativity status. Results Mean IC was 6.48 (SD = 1.68), and mean SI was 0.98 (SD = 0.91). In the overall sample, SI was not significantly associated with IC (β = −0.02, p > .05). Exploratory subgroup analyses identified several patterns. Among rural participants, higher SI was associated with lower IC (β = −0.63, p < .001), while among U.S.-born participants, higher SI was associated with lower IC (β = −0.29, p < .05). Across subgroups, higher household income and lower chronic disease burden were generally associated with higher IC(all p < .05). Conclusion SI was not significantly associated with IC in the overall sample. Exploratory analyses identified potentially important patterns across residential and nativity groups, but these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to clarify contextual differences and examine the pathways linking SI with functional aging among Hispanic older adults.