The journal of nutrition, health & aging

, Volume 16, Issue 6, pp 511–518 | Cite as

Diet quality and social support: Factors associated with serum carotenoid concentrations among older disabled women (the Women’s Health and Aging Study)

  • Emily Joy Nicklett
  • R. D. Semba
  • E. M. Simonsick
  • S. Szanton
  • K. Bandeen-Roche
  • L. Ferrucci
  • J. M. Guralnik
  • L. P. Fried
Article
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Accepted:

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the relationship between social support (including instrumental support, emotional support, social interaction, social space, and family networks) and diet quality, as indicated by serum carotenoid levels.

Design and Methods

The sample consisted of participants in the Women’s Health and Aging Study with longitudinal carotenoid data (n=325). We performed regression analyses using baseline indicators of social support and changes in social support to determine whether baseline levels and/or change in levels of social support predict changes in serum carotenoid levels. Social support changes were measured over 1 year from baseline to follow-up round 1. Carotenoid level changes were established from follow-up round 1 to round 2. To determine whether or not regression to the mean was driving these results, we performed an analysis that included baseline and change levels of social support indicators.

Results

At baseline, the frequency of leaving one’s home was associated with a decrease in carotenoid levels. Leaving one’s home more frequently predicted an increase in carotenoid levels and attending fewer activities predicted a decrease in carotenoid levels.

Implications

In older, community-resident disabled women, baseline levels of social support did not consistently predict diet quality. However, change in social support predicted both positive and negative change in diet quality and thus provides supportive evidence that social activity and family interaction may play meaningful roles in the maintenance of diet quality among functionally compromised older women. Further research is necessary to more fully understand the impact of multiple forms of social supports on the diet quality of older adults.

Key words

Social support carotenoids aging diet quality 
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Copyright information

© Serdi and Springer Verlag France 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • Emily Joy Nicklett
    • 1
    • 4
  • R. D. Semba
    • 1
  • E. M. Simonsick
    • 2
  • S. Szanton
    • 1
  • K. Bandeen-Roche
    • 1
  • L. Ferrucci
    • 2
  • J. M. Guralnik
  • L. P. Fried
    • 3
  1. 1.Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUSA
  2. 2.National Institutes of HealthColumbia University Medical CenterColumbiaUSA
  3. 3.Mailman School of Public HealthColumbia University Medical CenterColumbiaUSA
  4. 4.Center on Aging and HealthJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUSA

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