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. 2022 Feb;41(2):560-570.
doi: 10.1177/07334648211027691. Epub 2021 Jul 5.

Multimorbidity and Social Participation Is Moderated by Purpose in Life and Life Satisfaction

Jamie E Luster  1 , David Ratz  2 , Melissa Y Wei  1   3
Affiliations

Multimorbidity and Social Participation Is Moderated by Purpose in Life and Life Satisfaction

Jamie E Luster et al. J Appl Gerontol. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the association between multimorbidity and social participation and whether purpose in life and life satisfaction moderate this relationship.

Methods: Participants were 12,825 Health and Retirement Study adults. We used multiple linear regression to examine the association between a cumulative-updated multimorbidity-weighted index (MWI) and social participation.

Results: Among adults with average purpose in life or life satisfaction, MWI was associated with lower social participation. For those with above average purpose in life, each 1-point increase in MWI was associated with a 0.11-point (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.07, 0.14]) better social participation score. Participants with above average life satisfaction experienced a 0.04-point (95% CI: [0.02, 0.07]) better social participation score with each 1-point increase in MWI.

Discussion: Multimorbidity was associated with worse social participation, but this was reversed by above average purpose in life and life satisfaction. Interventions that improve well-being should be assessed to enhance social participation among older adults with any degree of multimorbidity.

Keywords: epidemiology; health-related quality of life; leisure; successful aging.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Panel A: Adaptation of the ICF Continuum of Functioning and Disability to Include Multimorbidity; Panel B: Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) of Variables in the Present Analysis
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Participant Flow Diagram
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Association between the Multimorbidity-Weighted Index and Social Participation by Purpose in Life Values in the Health and Retirement Study, 2010–2014 and 2012–2016 *Among participants with above average purpose in life (>4.6), social participation score does not decrease with increased MWI. Among participants with average or below average purpose in life (<=4.6), social participation score is decreased with increased MWI.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Association between the Multimorbidity-Weighted Index and Social Participation by Life Satisfaction Values in the Health and Retirement Study, 2010–2014 and 2012–2016 *Among participants with above average life satisfaction (>5), social participation score does not decrease with increased MWI. Among participants with average or below average life satisfaction (<=5), social participation score is decreased with increased MWI.
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