The effect of subjective social status on health-related quality of life decline in urban Chinese older adults: a four-year longitudinal study from Hong Kong
Abstract Background Improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is becoming a major focus of old age care and social policy. Researchers have been increasingly examining subjective social status (SSS), one’s self-perceived social position, as a predictor of various health conditions. SSS encomp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03314-x |
| _version_ | 1828375205919064064 |
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| author | Timothy S. Sumerlin Timothy C. Y. Kwok William B. Goggins Jinqiu Yuan Elizabeth M. S. Kwong Jason Leung Jean H. Kim |
| author_facet | Timothy S. Sumerlin Timothy C. Y. Kwok William B. Goggins Jinqiu Yuan Elizabeth M. S. Kwong Jason Leung Jean H. Kim |
| author_sort | Timothy S. Sumerlin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is becoming a major focus of old age care and social policy. Researchers have been increasingly examining subjective social status (SSS), one’s self-perceived social position, as a predictor of various health conditions. SSS encompasses not only concrete socio-economic (SES) factors but also intangible aspects of status. This study’s main objective was to examine the association between SSS and long-term change in HRQOL in older Chinese adults. Methods A longitudinal Hong Kong study recruited 2934 community-dwelling adults (age > 65 years). Participants completed SF-12 physical health (PCS) and mental health (MCS) HRQOL scales. This study analyzed baseline SSS-Society (self-perceived social status within Hong Kong) and SSS-Community (self-perceived status within one’s own social network) as predictors of long-term HRQOL decline. After stratifying for sex, multiple-linear-regression was performed on 4-year follow-up SF-12 PCS and MCS scores after adjusting for baseline SF-12 scores, traditional SES indicators, demographic variables, clinical conditions, and lifestyle variables. Results In the multivariable analyses, lower SSS-Society was associated with declines in MCS in males (βstandardized = 0.08, p = 0.001) and declines in PCS (βstandardized = 0.07, p = 0.006) and MCS (βstandardized = 0.12, p < 0.001) in females. SSS-Community was associated with declines in PCS in males (βstandardized = 0.07, p = 0.005) and MCS in females (βstandardized = 0.14, p < 0.001). Conclusions SSS may be a useful supplementary tool for predicting risk of long-term HRQOL decline in older Chinese adults. Strategies to reduce perceived social inequalities may improve HRQOL in older adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:44:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9bb8aac308b244468ca692520e72f2a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:44:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bb8aac308b244468ca692520e72f2a12022-12-22T02:05:24ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-07-0122111210.1186/s12877-022-03314-xThe effect of subjective social status on health-related quality of life decline in urban Chinese older adults: a four-year longitudinal study from Hong KongTimothy S. Sumerlin0Timothy C. Y. Kwok1William B. Goggins2Jinqiu Yuan3Elizabeth M. S. Kwong4Jason Leung5Jean H. Kim6Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong KongFaculty of Medicine Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong KongJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong KongClinical Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat-sen UniversityJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong KongJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong KongJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong KongAbstract Background Improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is becoming a major focus of old age care and social policy. Researchers have been increasingly examining subjective social status (SSS), one’s self-perceived social position, as a predictor of various health conditions. SSS encompasses not only concrete socio-economic (SES) factors but also intangible aspects of status. This study’s main objective was to examine the association between SSS and long-term change in HRQOL in older Chinese adults. Methods A longitudinal Hong Kong study recruited 2934 community-dwelling adults (age > 65 years). Participants completed SF-12 physical health (PCS) and mental health (MCS) HRQOL scales. This study analyzed baseline SSS-Society (self-perceived social status within Hong Kong) and SSS-Community (self-perceived status within one’s own social network) as predictors of long-term HRQOL decline. After stratifying for sex, multiple-linear-regression was performed on 4-year follow-up SF-12 PCS and MCS scores after adjusting for baseline SF-12 scores, traditional SES indicators, demographic variables, clinical conditions, and lifestyle variables. Results In the multivariable analyses, lower SSS-Society was associated with declines in MCS in males (βstandardized = 0.08, p = 0.001) and declines in PCS (βstandardized = 0.07, p = 0.006) and MCS (βstandardized = 0.12, p < 0.001) in females. SSS-Community was associated with declines in PCS in males (βstandardized = 0.07, p = 0.005) and MCS in females (βstandardized = 0.14, p < 0.001). Conclusions SSS may be a useful supplementary tool for predicting risk of long-term HRQOL decline in older Chinese adults. Strategies to reduce perceived social inequalities may improve HRQOL in older adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03314-xSubjective Social StatusHealth-Related Quality of LifeGeriatric Social MedicineGerontologyChina |
| spellingShingle | Timothy S. Sumerlin Timothy C. Y. Kwok William B. Goggins Jinqiu Yuan Elizabeth M. S. Kwong Jason Leung Jean H. Kim The effect of subjective social status on health-related quality of life decline in urban Chinese older adults: a four-year longitudinal study from Hong Kong BMC Geriatrics Subjective Social Status Health-Related Quality of Life Geriatric Social Medicine Gerontology China |
| title | The effect of subjective social status on health-related quality of life decline in urban Chinese older adults: a four-year longitudinal study from Hong Kong |
| title_full | The effect of subjective social status on health-related quality of life decline in urban Chinese older adults: a four-year longitudinal study from Hong Kong |
| title_fullStr | The effect of subjective social status on health-related quality of life decline in urban Chinese older adults: a four-year longitudinal study from Hong Kong |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of subjective social status on health-related quality of life decline in urban Chinese older adults: a four-year longitudinal study from Hong Kong |
| title_short | The effect of subjective social status on health-related quality of life decline in urban Chinese older adults: a four-year longitudinal study from Hong Kong |
| title_sort | effect of subjective social status on health related quality of life decline in urban chinese older adults a four year longitudinal study from hong kong |
| topic | Subjective Social Status Health-Related Quality of Life Geriatric Social Medicine Gerontology China |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03314-x |
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