Association between self-perception of aging and cognitive function in Chinese older adults: The mediation effect of health behaviors

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between self-perception of aging (SPA) and cognitive function in Chinese older adults, and to explore the mediating role of health behaviors.

Methods: This study included 5,445 Chinese older adults from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Correlation, linear regression and mediation effect analysis were employed to evaluate the association.

Results: SPA is significantly related to the health behaviors (r = 0.160, P < 0.01) and cognition (r = 0.086, P < 0.01), and health behaviors exhibited a positive correlation with cognition (r = 0.179, P < 0.01). SPA and health behaviors significantly impacted cognition (β = 0.032, P = 010; β = 0.103, P < 0.001). Health behaviors partially mediated the effect of SPA on cognitive function, accounting for 27.12 % of the total effect.

Conclusion: Health behaviors mediate the association between SPA and cognitive function. Healthcare providers should prioritize addressing SPA of older adults and encourage them to engage in health behaviors for cognitive health.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Health behaviors; Mediating effect; Older adults; Self-perception of aging.