Effects of social support on frailty trajectory classes among community-dwelling older adults: The mediating role of depressive symptoms and physical activity

Objectives: To investigate whether and how social support influenced frailty progression through depressive symptoms and physical activity. Methods: Of 1235 community-dwelling older adults enrolled at baseline, 778 (63.0%) undergoing at least one yearly follow-up were included in the final analysis. Data were collected on frailty, social support, depressive symptoms, physical activity and covariates. Results: Two frailty trajectory classes were identified and labeled as alleviated frailty and deteriorated frailty. Subjective support prevented the deterioration of frailty through decreased depressive symptoms, while objective support and support utilization prevented the deterioration of frailty through increased physical activity. Conclusions: The pathways through which social support ameliorates frailty vary by support types. Subjective support interventions should be included in the multifactorial interdisciplinary management of frailty to address social and psychological vulnerabilities, along with objective support and support utilization interventions addressing physical inactivity. (C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that social support influences the progression of frailty through different pathways. Subjective support can prevent the deterioration of frailty by reducing depressive symptoms, while objective support and support utilization can prevent the deterioration of frailty through increased physical activity.