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Successful Aging in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Effects of Social Support

Viviano, Nicole A.

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Arts in Gerontology, Youngstown State University, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology.
Introduction: Successful aging (SA) is defined as low rates of disease and disability, high cognitive and physical functioning, and active engagement with life. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate state between normal cognition and dementia. Those with MCI by definition are not successfully aging in the domain of cognitive and physical functioning; however, it is possible for those with MCI to age successfully in the other two domains. Perceived social support (PSS) may be one way to influence the effect of cognitive impairment on SA outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between cognitive status and three domains of SA, and whether these associations depend on PSS. Methods: The sample of participants are from the Monongahela-Youghiogheny Healthy Aging Team (MYHAT) study and are 65+ years old. The dependent variables are measures of the three domains of successful aging, the independent variable is cognitive status defined by the Clinical Dementia Rating score (0 = normal; 0.5 = MCI), and three measures of PSS. Covariates included age, sex, and education level. Normal vs. MCI older adults were compared on measures of SA. Cross-sectional associations between cognitive status, and SA domains were examined using binary logistic or simple linear regressions, and whether these associations depended on PSS was explored. Results: Those with MCI did not age as successfully as normal individuals. Social support did not moderate the negative effects of MCI on SA. Conclusions: This study provides a better understanding of how those with MCI age compared to their normal counterparts. Future research should examine coping mechanisms those with MCI use to compensate for their inability to successfully age.
Tiffany Hughes, PhD (Advisor)
Daniel Van Dussen, PhD (Committee Member)
Mary Ganguli, MD (Committee Member)
45 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Viviano, N. A. (2018). Successful Aging in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Effects of Social Support [Master's thesis, Youngstown State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1527769678445709

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Viviano, Nicole. Successful Aging in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Effects of Social Support. 2018. Youngstown State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1527769678445709.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Viviano, Nicole. "Successful Aging in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Effects of Social Support." Master's thesis, Youngstown State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1527769678445709

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)