The association between functional social support, marital status and memory in middle-aged and older adults: An analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Abstract

Purpose Although several studies have reported positive associations between functional social support (FSS) and memory, few have explored how other social variables, such as marital status, may affect the magnitude and direction of this association. We examined whether marital status modifies the association between FSS and memory in a sample of community-dwelling, middle-aged and older adults. Methods Data at three timepoints, spanning six years, were analyzed from the Tracking Cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 10,318). Linear mixed models were used to regress memory onto FSS across all three timepoints, adjusting for multiple covariates. The moderating effect of marital status was assessed by adding its interaction with FSS in the model. Separate regression models were built for overall FSS and four subtypes (positive interactions, affectionate, emotional/informational, and tangible support). Results We found significant and positive adjusted associations for overall FSS (β: 0.07; 95 % CI: 0.01, 0.13), positive interactions (β: 0.06; 95 % CI: 0.01, 0.11), and affectionate support (β: 0.05; 95 % CI: 0.00, 0.11) with memory. However, the interaction between marital status and FSS (overall and subtypes) was not statistically significant (likelihood ratio test p-value = 0.75), indicating that FSS does not have differing effects on memory depending on marital status. Conclusion Our findings do not provide evidence to suggest that marital status affects the association between FSS and memory in middle-aged and older adults. Nonetheless, policymakers and practitioners should take a comprehensive approach when exploring how various dimensions of social relationships may uniquely influence cognitive trajectories.