Sex differences in social support perceived by polymedicated older adults with multimorbidity. MULTIPAP study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 7; p. e0268218
• Main Authors: Lozano-Hernández, Cristina M, López-Rodríguez, Juan Antonio, Rico-Blázquez, Milagros, Calderón-Larrañaga, Amaia, Leiva-Fernández, Francisca, Prados-Torres, Alexandra, del Cura-González, Isabel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 27-07-2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adults; Anxiety; Biology and Life Sciences; Comorbidity; Computer and Information Sciences; Demographic aspects; Gender aspects; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine and Health Sciences; Morbidity; Mortality; Older people; Quality of life; Research and Analysis Methods; Sex differences; Social interactions; Social networks; Social Sciences; Social support; Womens health; Spain
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268218

The beneficial effects of social support on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life are well known. Using the baseline data of the MULTIPAP study (n = 593), an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out that analyzed the sex differences in the social support perceived by polymedicated adults aged 65 to 74 years with multimorbidity. The main outcome variable was social support measured through the Duke–UNC-11 Functional Social Support (DUFSS) questionnaire in its two dimensions (confident support and affective support). For both sexes, the perception of functional social support was correlated with being married or partnered and having a higher health-related quality of life utility index. In women, it was correlated with a higher level of education, living alone, and treatment adherence, and in men with higher monthly income, prescribed drugs and fewer diagnosed diseases.