Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road 81, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2021 Aug;33(8):2273-2281. doi: 10.1007/s40520-020-01743-5. Epub 2020 Nov 6.
Evidence of the association between marital status and cognitive function in Chinese older adults is limited.
To examine the relationship between marital status and cognitive function and to explore the role of gender amongst older adults from three Chinese communities.
A total of 1376 participants aged 60 years or over were included in this cross-sectional study. Cognitive function was assessed using the Chinese version of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Marital status and other variables were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine associations between marital statuses and cognitive function amongst the target population. The moderating role of gender in these potential associations has also been explored.
In univariate linear regression models, compared to being married, both being widowed (β [95% CI]: -1.46[-2.78 to - 0.13]) and being single (β [95% CI]: - 4.88[-6.43 to - 3.38]) were associated with lower MMSE scores. After adjustment for confounding factors, the significant association of being widowed with MMSE scores disappeared (β [95% CI: - 0.08[- 1.04 to 0.86]), but the association of being single with MMSE scores still existed (β [95% CI]: - 1.87[- 3.17 to - 0.58]). Furthermore, the association of being single with MMSE scores was statistically significant in men (β [95% CI]: - 5.25[- 7.17 to - 3.33]) but not in women (β [95% CI: 0.88[- 0.87 to 2.64]).
Being single was associated with poorer cognitive function compared with their married counterparts in older Chinese men but not in women. More preventive measurements should be implemented for single men to reduce or delay cognitive decline. This is particularly important in the context of an aging population in China.
有关中国老年人婚姻状况与认知功能之间关系的证据有限。
本研究旨在探讨中国三个社区老年人的婚姻状况与认知功能之间的关系，并探讨性别在其中的作用。
本横断面研究共纳入 1376 名 60 岁及以上的参与者。采用中文版简易精神状态检查（MMSE）评估认知功能。采用标准化问卷收集婚姻状况及其他变量。采用多元线性回归模型检验目标人群中婚姻状况与认知功能之间的关联。还探讨了性别在这些潜在关联中的调节作用。
在单变量线性回归模型中，与已婚相比，丧偶（β[95%CI]：-1.46[-2.78 至-0.13]）和单身（β[95%CI]：-4.88[-6.43 至-3.38]）与 MMSE 评分较低相关。调整混杂因素后，丧偶与 MMSE 评分的显著相关性消失（β[95%CI]：-0.08[-1.04 至 0.86]），但单身与 MMSE 评分的相关性仍然存在（β[95%CI]：-1.87[-3.17 至-0.58]）。此外，单身与 MMSE 评分的相关性在男性中具有统计学意义（β[95%CI]：-5.25[-7.17 至-3.33]），但在女性中无统计学意义（β[95%CI]：0.88[-0.87 至 2.64]）。
与已婚同龄人相比，单身的中国老年男性认知功能较差，而女性则不然。应针对单身男性实施更多预防措施，以减少或延缓认知能力下降。在中国人口老龄化的背景下，这一点尤为重要。
