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Isometrische Greifkraft und sozialgerontologische Forschung

Ergebnisse und Analysepotentiale des SHARE und SOEP

Isometric grip strength and social gerontological research: results and analytic potentials of SHARE and SOEP

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Zusammenfassung

Dieser Aufsatz zeigt, dass die Messung der Handgreifkraft ein auch in sozialwissenschaftlichen Bevölkerungsumfragen einfach zu ermittelndes, nicht-invasives und verlässliches objektives Gesundheitsmaß ist. Die Greifkraftmessung stellt nicht nur eine sinnvolle Ergänzung zu selbst berichteten Indikatoren des Gesundheitszustandes dar, sondern besitzt darüber hinaus hinsichtlich einer Vielzahl insbesondere für die sozialgerontologische Forschung relevanter Variablen (z. B. Mortalitätsrisiken) eine eigenständige Erklärungskraft. Der 2004 erstmals erhobene Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) und die Haupterhebung 2006 des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) erlauben nun aufschlussreiche erhebungsmethodische und erste inhaltliche Querschnittsauswertungen der Greifkraft auch für Deutschland. Im Mittelpunkt der vorliegenden Untersuchung stehen dabei Personen im Alter von 50 oder mehr Jahren. Die Erfahrungen, die in beiden Surveys bei der Durchführung des Greiftests gemacht wurden, insbesondere auch hinsichtlich der Akzeptanz bei den Befragten, sind durchweg positiv. Herausragende Determinanten der isometrischen Greifkraft sind – neben dem Geschlecht – Alter, Körpergröße und Gewicht. Eine multivariate Betrachtung weist darüber hinaus auf einen deutlichen positiven Zusammenhang zwischen verschiedenen Gesundheitsindikatoren und der Handgreifkraft hin.

Abstract

This paper shows that the measurement of hand grip strength provides a non-invasive and reliable objective health indicator for social science research and is easy to collect in general population surveys. Grip strength is not only a useful complement of self-reported indicators of health, but it also exhibits a considerable predictive power with regard to a number of further relevant variables for social gerontological research, such as mortality risks. New data from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the 2006 wave of the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) allow insightful methodological and very first substantive cross-sectional analyses of grip strength in Germany. The focus of the present study is on the analysis of individuals aged 50 or older. The experience of both surveys when measuring grip strength is consistently positive, particularly with regard to the respondents’ feedback. Major determinants of isometric grip strength are – beyond the individual’s gender – age, body size and weight. A multivariate analysis also provides evidence for a clear positive association between various health indicators and grip strength.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. (MEA – Universität Mannheim & DIW Berlin), MEA – Universität Mannheim, L 13, 17, 68131, Mannheim, Germany

    Karsten Hank

  2. (MEA – Universität Mannheim & DIW Berlin), MEA – Universität Mannheim, L 13, 17, 68131, Mannheim, Germany

    Hendrik Jürges

  3. (DIW Berlin, FU Berlin & IZA Bonn), DIW Berlin, Mohrenstr. 58, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Jürgen Schupp

  4. (TU Berlin, DIW Berlin & MPIB Berlin), TU Berlin, Fakultät VIII – H 53 –, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    Gert G. Wagner

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  1. Karsten Hank
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  2. Hendrik Jürges
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  4. Gert G. Wagner
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Correspondence to Karsten Hank.

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Hank, K., Jürges, H., Schupp, J. et al. Isometrische Greifkraft und sozialgerontologische Forschung. Z Gerontol Geriat 42, 117–126 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-008-0537-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-008-0537-8

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