Study on the correlation between marital status and mild cognitive impairment in older adults
Bai Ling, Zhen Fengya, Wang Lan, Song Mei, Yu Lulu, Wang Xueyi, An Cuixia
Abstract
ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between marital status and mild cognitive impairment in older adults.
MethodsThis study is a cluster random sampling.From January to December 2020, a questionnaire survey was conducted among older adults aged 60 years and over in four cities of Hebei Province.Finally, 2690 older adults with mild cognitive impairment and normal cognitive function were enrolled.The older adults were divided into 2 groups according to their marital status: married and living with their spouses(group E1), divorced or living alone(group E2). The mini-mental state examination(MMSE)scores of older adults in the two groups were compared.Moreover, the cognitive differences of older adults between the two groups and the interaction of marital status, social activities and life events on cognitive outcomes were analyzed.
ResultsThe married older adults with partners had better cognitive preservation(P<0.01). The more life events were more likely to cause cognitive impairment(P<0.01), and the interaction of marital status, social activities and life events had a significant impact on cognition(P<0.01). Older men who were married and lived with spouse had better cognition than older women who were married and lived with spouse(P<0.05 in Model 3). The cognition of widowed elderly women was better than those of widowed elderly men(P<0.1 in Model 1; P<0.1 in Model 2). Among elderly men, the cognition of those married and living with spouse was better than that those of widowed(P<0.01 in models 1 and 2, P<0.1 in model 3). Among elderly women, those married and living with spouse had better cognitive outcomes than those widowed(P<0.01 in Model 1, P<0.01 in Model 2).
ConclusionsMarital companionship is a protective factor for the cognition of older adults, and there are gender differences in the impact of marital status on cognition in late life.
Key words:
Mild cognitive impairment; Marital status; Social activities; Life events; Gender
Contributor Information
Bai Ling
Mental Health Center, the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Mental Health Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Zhen Fengya
Mental Health Center, the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Mental Health Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Wang Lan
Mental Health Center, the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Mental Health Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Song Mei
Mental Health Center, the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Mental Health Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Yu Lulu
Mental Health Center, the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Mental Health Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Wang Xueyi
Mental Health Center, the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Mental Health Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
An Cuixia
Mental Health Center, the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
Mental Health Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
