Does Social Activity Participation Moderate the Relationship Between Age and Cognition? Evidence from the HRS
2024
Social Activities and Cognitive Health in Older Adults
Sample size: 9919
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Layla Katharine Santana, Hongdao Meng, Lindsay Peterson, Minh Quan Le, Mingyang Li, Debra Dobbs
Primary Institution: University of South Florida
Hypothesis
Does social activity participation moderate the relationship between age and cognition?
Conclusion
Social engagement may protect against cognitive decline as people age.
Supporting Evidence
- Age was negatively associated with cognition.
- Social activity participation was positively associated with cognition.
- The interaction between age and social activity participation was statistically significant.
Takeaway
Being active in social activities can help keep your brain healthy as you get older.
Methodology
Cross-sectional study using data from the Health and Retirement Study, analyzing cognitive functioning and social activity participation.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot establish causation.
Participant Demographics
Average age 67 years, 59.5% female, 66.1% non-Hispanic White.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website