Sources of perceived social support and cognitive function among older adults: a longitudinal study in rural China

BackgroundStudies have shown the positive impact of perceived social support on cognitive function among older adults in rural areas. However, existing studies often overlook the impact of different support sources. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the diverse sources of perceived social support and cognitive function.MethodsParticipants were drawn from the Guizhou Rural Older Adults’ Health Study (HSRO) in China. We included 791 participants who participated in a baseline survey in 2019 and a 3-year follow-up survey. Perceived social support was investigated from the six main sources (friend, relative, children, spouse, sibling, and neighbor). Hierarchical linear regression models were used to observe the effects of diverse sources of perceived social support and their combinations on cognitive function.ResultsCognitive function was positively associated with perceived support from children, friends, and neighbors. A positive association was found between cognitive function and increases in each additional source [β = 0.75 (95%CI: 0.51, 0.98), p