Social isolation, health literacy, and mortality risk: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the relationships between social isolation, health literacy, and all-cause mortality, and the modifying effect of social isolation on the latter relationship.

Methods

Data were from 7731 adults aged ≥50 years participating in Wave 2 (2004/2005) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Social isolation was defined according to marital/cohabiting status and contact with children, relatives, and friends, and participation in social organizations. Scores were split at the median to indicate social isolation (yes vs. no). Health literacy was assessed as comprehension of a medicine label and classified as "high" (≥75% correct) or "low" (<75% correct). The outcome was all-cause mortality up to February 2013. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted

SUBMITTER: Smith SG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5794512 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature