PSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS OF SURVIVAL IN TWO OLD AGE COHORTS

• Published in: Innovation in aging 2017-07, Vol.1 (suppl_1), p.855-856
• Main Authors: Despot Lucanin, J., Lucanin, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300; 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.3080

Increased life expectancy seems to result in disability postponement and increase in care services needs at older age. Existing models of the psychosocial factors’ associations with health and survival in older adults show inconsistencies regarding the significance of these associations. Few of these models regarded the cohort effects, which may be important in the planning of care for old persons. The aims of this research were to check the differences in survival and in psychosocial characteristics between two cohorts of older adults and to compare psychosocial predictors of survival in two different cohorts of retirement homes’ residents. Participants were two cohorts of old persons, older than 60 years, from Croatia. The cohort interviewed in 1994 consisted of 186 participants (144 women). The cohort interviewed in 2008 consisted of 277 participants (182 women). Both cohorts lived in retirement homes. The inclusion criterion for this research was reliable information on the participants being deceased in the meanwhile, by 2015. Variables measured: Sociodemographic, self-rated health, functional ability, social support, depression. Data were collected by specifically constructed questionnaire, administered individually in the form of structured interview, by the trained interviewer. Participants’ survival was followed by 2015. Significant gender differences in survival were found, with continuing trend of women surviving longer in both cohorts. Better self-rated health and functional ability were found in younger cohort. Combinations of multivariate analyses confirmed significant contribution of psychosocial variables to survival prediction. Implications are in the planning and adjustment of psychosocial care for future cohorts of retirement homes’ residents.