The role of social integration in the consumption of fruit and vegetables among the elderly

Abstract This study investigates the extent to which aspects of the social integration of the elderly are linked to higher levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. It involved a cross-sectional study based on data from the National Study of Dependency in the Elderly, with a sample of 3278 elderly individuals. The variables of social integration considered were: frequency of meeting with close relatives, other relatives and neighbors and friends in the last 12 months; participation in recreational activities and in community groups, in addition to housing arrangements and marital status. The number of servings of fruit and vegetables consumed per day was the dependent variable. Logistic regression analysis was then conducted. In the adjusted model, more frequent encounters with siblings, in-laws and nephews, participation in community groups or organizations, are factors that increase the possibility of consuming two or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, versus 1 serving or none; the opposite was observed when living alone. The variables of social integration that can increase the possibility of attaining the recommendation of consumption of fruit and vegetables daily (5 or more) in the adjusted model are frequency of encounters with siblings, in-laws and nephews and living alone.

摘要 本研究探讨老年人社会融合的多个维度与较高果蔬摄入量之间的关联程度。本研究基于《老年人依赖状况全国调查（National Study of Dependency in the Elderly）》的数据开展横断面研究，纳入3278名老年人作为研究样本。本研究纳入的社会融合变量包括：过去12个月内与近亲、其他亲属及邻里好友的会面频率、参与娱乐活动与社区团体的情况，以及居住安排与婚姻状况。本研究的因变量（dependent variable）为每日果蔬食用份数。随后开展了逻辑回归（logistic regression）分析。在调整后的模型中，更频繁地与兄弟姐妹、姻亲及侄辈会面、参与社区团体或组织，均为提升每日食用2份及以上果蔬（相较于1份或未食用）可能性的正向影响因素；而独居则呈现相反的关联。在调整后的模型中，能够提升达到每日果蔬摄入推荐量（5份及以上）可能性的社会融合变量为：与兄弟姐妹、姻亲及侄辈的会面频率，以及独居状态。