Factors associated with low social support and participation among Brazilian older adults with disabilities: a cross-sectional study based on the 2019 national health survey.
TL;DR
The findings contribute to the identification of groups most vulnerable to low social support and low social participation among older adults with disabilities, and highlights the importance of targeted strategies to promote social inclusion in aging populations.
Abstract
Background
Lack of social connections and limited social participation are associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Understanding the determinants that influence these social dimensions is essential for the early identification of vulnerable groups. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze factors associated with low social support and low social participation among Brazilian older adults with disabilities.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 5,511 older adults (≥ 60 years) with permanent disabilities, based on data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey. Social support from friends and family, as well as the frequency of participation in physical, community, and religious activities, were assessed in relation to sociodemographic, economic, and health-related variables. Pearson's Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression models were applied.
Results
The prevalence of permanent disability was 24.7%, and the mean age of participants was 73.2 years. Lower levels of social support were observed among older adults aged 60-74 years, individuals with lower educational attainment, those without a partner, residents of urban areas in the North and Southeast regions, those with multiple domains of disability, and those reporting poorer self-rated health. Low social participation was more prevalent among men, older adults of more advanced age, White individuals, those with lower education, urban residents, individuals with poor self-rated health, those not using assistive devices, smokers, those with multiple domains of disability and those with no multimorbidity.
Conclusions
The findings contribute to the identification of groups most vulnerable to low social support and low social participation among older adults with disabilities. Because these patterns vary according to the type of social support and type of participation, this study highlights the importance of targeted strategies to promote social inclusion in aging populations.