Shared Experience of Physical Vitality and Social Participation Among Caregiving Dyads: Comparing Dyads With and Without Dementia

Social connection is a core component of well-being. Older adults with declining physical functioning or serious health conditions are at particular risk for social isolation and loneliness, and often rely on a family caregiver to facilitate their social participation. Using data from the 2015 and 2017 National Health and Aging Trends Study and the National Survey of Caregiving, this study sought to elucidate dyadic interdependence in the relationship between physical vitality and social participation, among care recipient-caregiver dyads (152 dyads with dementia; 475 dyads without dementia). Actor-partner interdependence models reveal that physical vitality was positively associated with social participation in care recipients, regardless of their dementia status. In dyads with dementia, care recipients' physical vitality was also positively associated with caregiver social participation. The findings demonstrate the importance of physical vitality of both older adults and their caregivers in maintaining social participation in the face of health challenges.