Does social activity decrease risk for institutionalization and mortality in older people?

OBJECTIVES Social inactivity predicts adverse health events, but less is known about how different dimensions of social activity are related to health. The aim of this study was to investigate collective (e.g., cultural and organizational activities) and productive (e.g., helping others) social activity as predictors of risk for mortality and institutionalization in old age. METHOD A total of 1,181 community-living people aged 65-84 years at baseline were interviewed face to face as part of the Evergreen project, in Jyväskylä, Finland in 1988. Time to institutionalization and mortality were analyzed in separate models for proportional hazard regression on mortality and competing risks analysis on institutionalization and mortality. RESULTS At follow-up, approximately 17 years later, 22% of persons were institutionalized and 71% had died. When sociodemographics, health, functioning, and intensity of physical activity were controlled for, collective social activity reduced risk for mortality and initially for institutionalization although this latter effect diminished over time. DISCUSSION Collective social activity may be associated with a reduced risk for mortality and institutionalization in older people. Further studies on the mechanisms underlying the association between social activity and health are needed.