The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Oct 2021
Bidirectional and dynamic relationships between social isolation and physical functioning among older adults: A cross-lagged panel model of US national survey data.
Previous studies examining unidirectional relationships between social isolation and physical functioning among older adults may be biased due to reverse causality. This study leveraged data from a US national sample of older adults and a novel estimation method to identify bidirectional associations between these 2 phenomena and their associated temporal dynamics. ⋯ This study confirmed the existence of statistically significant bidirectional associations between social isolation and physical functioning among older adults in the United States, net of reverse causation. Because the effect of social isolation dominates, the findings indicate that public health strategies to promote successful aging should prioritize interventions that enrich older adults' social networks. Furthermore, the effect time horizons yielded by the model point to the optimal timing for the re-delivery of interventions.