Poster Presentation
Sunday, November 4, 2007
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Sunday, November 4, 2007
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Social Network and Dietary Intake in Community Dwelling Elderly Women: Are They Really Related?
Regina M. Phillips, PhD, RN, Nursing Division, Villa Julie College, Stevenson, MD, USA
| Learning Objective #1: identify at least 5 social network characteristics and dietary intake needs found in community dwelling elderly women who participated in the NHANES III. |
| Learning Objective #2: describe at least 5 areas for additional nursing or health related research concerning the social network and dietary intake in this population. |
Over the last three decades, more emphasis has been placed on describing and explaining the specific nature of social interactions and the effects of these interactions on health. The elderly population, defined in this study as those individuals 60 years of age or older, has been of particular interest because of their increased risk for illness and disability with advancing age. Elderly women are considered particularly vulnerable to the effects of illness and disability. Research from a variety of disciplines suggests that the social network (i.e. the structure of individuals with a specific, designated relationship to the individual in need), and its inherent social support, is an important factor for maintaining physical, mental and social health in all older adults. Dietary intake is an indicator of overall health; understanding factors that affect dietary intake provides clinicians with the opportunity to promote positive health outcomes and a positive quality of life for the older adult. Few studies examine the specific relationship between the social network and dietary intake and nutrition in any population. This study examined the relationship between the social network including household size, frequency of non household contact with family/friends and frequency of organizational contact and dietary intake in community-dwelling older women using the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Dietary intake was measured by total food energy intake, body mass index, total dietary intake of selected vitamins/food components and self reported assessment of food security. Although several significant associations emerged, the study’s hypotheses were not supported. However, this study provided a revealing description of community dwelling elderly women relative to dietary intake and social network nurses in all clinical areas. Furthermore, additional research possibilities for nursing and other health disciplines were revealed.