Frequent socializing of seniors associated with longer life
Frequent socializing is linked to longer life in seniors, according to a Chinese study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. The most benefits are provided by almost daily activity of this type.
Researchers from Sichuan University West China Hospital in Chengdu came to this conclusion after analyzing data collected from 28,563 people with an average age of 89 who live alone. They were all participants in a long-term study entitled Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS).
Study participants were monitored for the next five years or until they died.
In the first five years, 25,406 people did not socialize, 1,379 did so occasionally, 693 at least once a year, 553 at least once a week, and 532 almost every day. 74% died during the study. people (21,161), of which 15,728 in the first five years.
The analysis took into account other factors that may affect life expectancy, such as gender, education, marital status, income, fruit and vegetable consumption, lifestyle and health status.
It turned out that frequent social activity was related to the longer life of the surveyed seniors, and the more frequent it was, the more benefits it brought.
In the first five years, the standardized mortality rate was: 18.4 per 100 persons per year in the group that did not socialize, 8.8 in those who socialized occasionally, 8.3 in those who socialized at least once a month, 7.5 in the group that did it at least once a week, and 7.3 in those who socialized almost daily.
The time to death was correspondingly shorter by: 42 percent. among those who socialize from time to time, by 48 percent. for people doing it at least once a month, by 110 percent. in those who socialized at least once a week and 87 percent. in those who did it almost every day compared to those who did not socialize.
A five-year analysis of the surviving group confirmed that more social activity was associated with longer lives. For the group that socialized almost every day, time to death was delayed by 204 percent. compared to those who did not socialize at all.
The authors of the study emphasize that it was of an observational nature, so it cannot be concluded on its basis that more frequent social activity will extend the life of seniors.
In their opinion, however, this analysis suggests that it is worth supporting initiatives aimed at maintaining social activity of older people.
Researchers speculate that this type of activity may be conducive to longer life, e.g. because it mitigates the impact of chronic stress on humans. (PAP)
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