February 1, 1979American Journal of Epidemiology
Social Networks, Host Resistance, and Mortality: A Nine-Year Follow-Up Study of Alameda County Residents
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Discussion
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Implication
Cohort study reveals higher mortality risk in socially isolated individuals, indicating that social ties independently promote long-term survival.
Key Points
- To examine the relationship between social and community ties and all-cause mortality over a nine-year follow-up period.
- Prospective cohort study analyzing data from the 1965 Human Population Laboratory survey among a random sample of 6,928 adults in Alameda County, California, with a nine-year mortality follow-up.
- Evaluated the extent of social and community contacts while controlling for baseline self-reported health, socioeconomic status, year of death, and health behaviors including smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and physical activity.
- Individuals lacking social and community ties experienced significantly higher mortality rates during the follow-up period than those with extensive contacts.
- The age-adjusted relative risk of mortality for the most isolated individuals compared to those with the most social contacts was 2.3 for men and 2.8 for women.
- The association between social isolation and increased mortality remained independent of baseline physical health, socioeconomic status, and both individual and cumulative health practices.
Cite This Study
Berkman et al. (1979) studied this question.