Social network associated with depressed mood and sarcopenia among older adults in Taiwan

Yu-Hung Lin; Der-Sheng Han; Yi-Hsuan Lee; Ding-Cheng Chan; Chia-Hsiu Chang; Kuen-Cheh Yang; Fong-Ching Chang

doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2023.11.004

Social network associated with depressed mood and sarcopenia among older adults in Taiwan

J Formos Med Assoc. 2023 Dec 2:S0929-6646(23)00470-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.11.004. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yu-Hung Lin¹, Der-Sheng Han², Yi-Hsuan Lee³, Ding-Cheng Chan⁴, Chia-Hsiu Chang⁵, Kuen-Cheh Yang⁶, Fong-Ching Chang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Community Medicine and Long-Term Care, National Taiwan University Hospital Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology and Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: fongchingchang@ntnu.edu.tw.

PMID: 38044206
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.11.004

Abstract

Background: Social isolation is increasing in aging societies; however, its relationship with depressed mood and sarcopenia is not well studied. This study aims to examine the influence of social network on depressed mood and sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan.

Methods: We collected data from a sample of 981 older adults residing in the community. These individuals received government-subsidized preventive healthcare services for adults at a district hospital in Taipei in 2021. The social network of the older adults who participated was assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale, while depressed mood was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale. The definition of sarcopenia used in this study was based on the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia.

Results: According to this study, sarcopenia was present in approximately 15 % of older adults. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that older adults who had poor social network and did not meet the recommended 150 min of regular physical activity per week were more likely to have depressed mood. Additionally, older adults who were older, underweight, did not engage in regular physical activity, and had poor social network were more likely to have sarcopenia.

Conclusion: Poor social network was associated with increased risks of depressed mood and sarcopenia among older adults.

Keywords: Depressed mood; Older adult; Sarcopenia; Social network.