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Life Course Trajectories of Later-Life Cognitive Functions: Does Social Engagement in Old Age Matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Sojung Park

    (George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, 1 Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA)

  • Eunsun Kwon

    (Center for Social Science, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea)

  • Hyunjoo Lee

    (Department of Social Work, Daegu University, 201 Deagudae-ro, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38453, Korea)

Abstract

This study identified differential patterns of later-life cognitive function trajectories and examined to what extent life course factors and social engagement are associated with group trajectories. Data came from seven waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS 1998–2010; n = 7374; Observations = 41,051). Latent class growth analysis identified cognitive function trajectory groups, and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with group trajectories. Five heterogeneous trajectories were identified: stable high, stable moderate, stable low, high-to-moderate, and moderate-to-low. Findings suggest that, after adjusting for life course factors, individuals who became volunteers were more likely to belong to one of the two least vulnerable trajectories, stable high or high-to-moderate. Our findings suggest that, despite the cumulative life course factors evident in cognitive decline, social engagement in old age may serve as a potential protective resource.

Suggested Citation

  • Sojung Park & Eunsun Kwon & Hyunjoo Lee, 2017. "Life Course Trajectories of Later-Life Cognitive Functions: Does Social Engagement in Old Age Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:4:p:393-:d:95234
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Marcia G. Ory & Matthew Lee Smith, 2017. "What If Healthy Aging Is the ‘New Normal’?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-5, November.
    4. Hyuma Makizako & Hiroyuki Shimada & Takehiko Doi & Kota Tsutsumimoto & Ryo Hotta & Sho Nakakubo & Keitaro Makino & Sangyoon Lee, 2018. "Social Frailty Leads to the Development of Physical Frailty among Physically Non-Frail Adults: A Four-Year Follow-Up Longitudinal Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-9, March.

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