Ability of Social Support to Predict At-Risk Dietary Intake and Anthropometric Measures in White, Rural, Community-Dwelling Elderly Women

Abstract

Using a stratified random sample of 249 rural, community-dwelling, older women, this study evaluated if higher levels of associative and functional solidarity with family and others in the community would lead to lower at-risk dietary intake and anthropometric measures. Factor analysis identified 5 factors associated with nutritional measures: contact with family members, non-family others, senior center attendance, and emotional and instrumental support. Overall, attendance at a senior center predicted adequate protein intake. For younger elderly, in addition to attending a senior center, having contact with non-family others, having a higher income, and living with someone decreased the likelihood of at-risk protein intake. For the oldest women, social factors did not predict at-risk dietary intake or anthropometric measures.

Key Words:

• Social support
• aged
• food frequency
• anthropometric measures
• elderly women
• factor analysis