The impact of social engagement on health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in old age - evidence from a multicenter prospective cohort study in Germany

André Hajek,Wolfgang Maier,Tobias Luck,Michael Pentzek,Christian Brettschneider,Jochen Werle,Steffi G Riedel‐Heller ,Janine Stein,Silke Mamone,Ângela Fuchs ,Tina Mallon,Horst Bickel,Martin Scherer,Kathrin Heser,Andrej Ernst ,Siegfried Weyerer,Dagmar Weeg,Michael Wagner,Birgitt Wiese,Hans‐Helmut König

doi:10.1186/s12955-017-0715-8

Abstract

BackgroundThus far, only a few longitudinal studies investigated the impact of social engagement on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depressive symptoms in old age. Therefore, we aimed to examine the impact of social engagement on HRQoL and depressive symptoms in late life.MethodsIndividuals aged 75 years and over at baseline were interviewed every 1.5 years in a multicenter prospective cohort study in Germany. While HRQoL was quantified by using the Visual Analogue Scale (EQ VAS) of the EQ-5D instrument, depressive symptoms was assessed by using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Individuals reported the frequency (“never” to “every day”) of social engagement (e.g., engagement in the church, as a volunteer, in a party, or in a club) in the last four weeks. Fixed effects regressions were used to estimate the effect of social engagement on the outcome variables.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, marital status, functional status and chronic diseases, fixed effects regressions revealed that the onset of social engagement markedly increased HRQoL and considerably decreased depressive symptoms in the total sample and in women, but not men.ConclusionsOur findings corroborate the relevance of social engagement for HRQoL and depressive symptoms in old age. Encouraging the individuals to start, maintain and expand social engagement in late life might help to maintain and improve HRQoL and decrease depressive symptoms.

Highlights

Far, only a few longitudinal studies investigated the impact of social engagement on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depressive symptoms in old age
18% of the individuals who were not socially engaged in 2009 were willing to start voluntary activities (4% = “yes”; 14% = “maybe”). It was extremely important for individuals in late life to help other people in their voluntary activities [6]. Due to these reasons and as it is expected that the number and proportion of individuals in old age will considerably increase in the decades, there is a huge potential for older people getting socially involved, e.g. in the issue of refugees
This study investigated the impact of social engagement on HRQoL and depressive symptoms in late life in Germany

Summary

Introduction

Only a few longitudinal studies investigated the impact of social engagement on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depressive symptoms in old age. 18% of the individuals who were not socially engaged in 2009 were willing to start voluntary activities (4% = “yes”; 14% = “maybe”) It was extremely important for individuals in late life to help other people in their voluntary activities [6]. Due to these reasons and as it is expected that the number and proportion of individuals in old age will considerably increase in the decades, there is a huge potential for older people getting socially involved, e.g. in the issue of refugees. This issue is projected to be a challenge to Germany in upcoming decades, underlining the importance of social engagement in old age in the future

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Conclusion