The relationship between social support, self-efficacy, and asthma outcomes in older adults

Abstract

Objective

There has been a call for research examining factors that influence asthma outcomes in older adults because of the notable disparities observed in this age group. Social support and self-efficacy are resources that factor into asthma outcomes. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between these resources (independently and jointly) and asthma control and quality of life.

Methods

Older adults with moderate-severe asthma were recruited from NYC. Data were obtained during in-person interviews via validated measures of social support, asthma self-efficacy, asthma control, and asthma quality of life. Linear regression evaluated self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and asthma outcomes.

Results

In a sample of 359 older adults (M = 68.04, 47.9% Hispanic, 26.5% Black, and 25.6% other), social support had an inverse association with asthma control. As social support increased, asthma control decreased (β = 0.95, t(356) = −3.13, p = .002). Self-efficacy significantly moderated this relationship (β = 0.01, t(356) = 2.37, p = .018). For individuals with low or moderate asthma self-efficacy, more received social support was associated with worse asthma control (β = −0.33, t(356) = −4.66, p < .0001; β = −0.20, t(356) = −3.21, p = .0014, respectively). For individuals with high self-efficacy, no relationship was found between received social support and asthma control (β = −0.10, t(356)= −1.20, p =.23). For asthma quality of life, higher levels of received social support were associated with worse quality of life (β = −0.88, t(356) = −2.64, p = .009), but this association was not significantly moderated by self-efficacy (β = 0.01, t(356) = 1.90, p = .0582).

Conclusions

For older adults with asthma, receiving more social support is associated with worse asthma outcomes, especially for older adults with lower asthma self-efficacy.

Keywords:

• Geriatric asthma
• asthma quality of life
• asthma control
• social resources
• personal resources
• social-cognitive

Disclosure statement

Dr. Wisnivesky has received consulting honorarium from Sanofi, Banook, PPD, Prospero, and Atea and research grants from Sanofi, Arnold Consultants, Regeneron, and Axella. For the remaining authors no conflicts of interest are declared.

Notes

1 8th grade or less: p < .001, 95% CI = [0.43, 1.65]

Some high-school: p < .001, 95% CI = [0.36, 1.55]

GED/high school: p = 0.006, 95% CI = [0.13, 1.19]

Some college; p = .002, 95%, CI = [0.16, 1.13].

Additional information

Funding

This study used data from a larger parent-study supported by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (Grant Number: 1R01HL131418-01A1).