Abstract

Objectives

To examine whether neighborhood and household disorder matter for cognitive functioning among middle-aged and older adults and whether the disorder-cognition link is moderated by social network resources.

Method

Data are drawn from National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) Wave 2 (N = 3198). Both neighborhood and household were considered as key residential contexts that shape one’s social life and health. Exposure to neighborhood and household disorder was measured using interviewer assessments of signs of disorder and decay, including the presence of disrepair, trash, noise, and unpleasant smells such as air pollution, in the buildings and streets in which the respondent lives. Cognitive function was measured using the survey-adapted Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-SA). Network size, network range, and frequency of interaction among network members were assessed as moderators.

Results

Neighborhood and household disorder were independently associated with cognitive function. However, disorder in the household appeared to have more direct associations with cognitive function than did the neighborhood when both were present. The association between household disorder and cognitive function was mitigated by network size, such that poor housing conditions were associated with lower cognitive function only for those with small social networks.

Conclusion

This study suggests a larger network may play a role in minimizing the negative influence of household disorder on cognitive function for middle-aged and older adults. Social policy and intervention aimed at promoting network ties may help reduce further disparities in cognitive function, especially for those vulnerable groups living in a poor-quality household.

中文翻译：

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障碍、网络和认知：社交网络是否缓冲了邻里和家庭障碍对认知功能的影响？

摘要

目标

旨在检验邻里和家庭障碍是否对中年和老年人的认知功能有影响，以及障碍与认知之间的联系是否受到社交网络资源的调节。

方法

数据来自国家社会生活、健康和老龄化项目 (NSHAP) 第 2 波（N  = 3198）。社区和家庭都被认为是塑造一个人的社会生活和健康的关键居住环境。使用访谈者对混乱和衰败迹象的评估来衡量接触邻里和家庭混乱的情况，包括受访者居住的建筑物和街道中是否存在年久失修、垃圾、噪音和空气污染等难闻气味。使用调查改编的蒙特利尔认知评估 (MoCA-SA) 测量认知功能。网络规模、网络范围和网络成员之间的互动频率被评估为调节因素。

结果

邻里关系和家庭障碍与认知功能独立相关。然而，家庭混乱似乎与认知功能的关联比两者都存在时的邻里关系更直接。家庭障碍与认知功能之间的关联因网络规模而减弱，因此仅对于那些社交网络较小的人来说，糟糕的住房条件与较低的认知功能有关。

结论

这项研究表明，更大的网络可能会在最大限度地减少家庭障碍对中老年人认知功能的负面影响方面发挥作用。旨在促进网络联系的社会政策和干预可能有助于进一步减少认知功能的差异，特别是对于生活在劣质家庭中的弱势群体而言。