The Interaction of Social Support and Functional Status on the Dietary Quality of Elderly Women

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To describe the synergistic effects of social support and functional status on dietary quality. Social support may promote positive health behaviors and encourage the use of available services. One function of social support is to buffer recipients from the negative consequences of life stressors. This study examined the buffering effects of nutrition specific social support on the relationship between functional status and dietary quality. A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit 102 independently living, elderly women. Two structured interviews were conducted in the homes of the subjects to assess demographic information, functional status, food frequency patterns, and the providers and types of nutrition specific social support. Diet Quality Index (DQI) was the outcome measure. Multiple regression showed significant interaction effects of providers of social support and functional status on DQI (p<.01, Adj. R 2=.08) and types of social support and functional status on DQI (p<.01, Adj. R 2=.10). Furthermore, social support had a positive effect on diet quality even for women with minimal disabilities. In summary, social support appears to buffer older adults from the potentially negative effects of functional loss on diet quality. Health professionals and others should simultaneously consider social support and functional status when assessing nutritional risk.