Predicting change in perceived social support in late life: The role of personality and gender

OBJECTIVES: Perceived social support (PSS) has a uniquely beneficial effect on physical and mental health in older adults, yet relatively little is known about patterns of change in PSS during late life. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors related to individual-level change in PSS, with a focus on personality (specifically Neuroticism and Extraversion) and gender as primary variables of interest. METHOD: The study sample consisted of 409 community-dwelling, healthy older adults (56.5% female) who were followed annually for up to five years. Personality traits were analyzed independently and as combined Neuroticism-Extraversion quadrants. Linear mixed effect models (LMEM) and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to examine continuous change and incidence of decline in PSS, respectively. Analyses were conducted for the entire sample and in stratified models in order to explore the potential moderating effect of gender. RESULTS: Personality was identified as a significant predictor of PSS change, including personality quadrants and High Neuroticism alone. Stratified models revealed significant gender differences, with High Neuroticism-Low Extraversion and High Neuroticism alone consistently linked to PSS decline in males, while Low Neuroticism-Low Extraversion was linked to PSS decline in females. CONCLUSION: Patterns in LMEM and Cox model results suggest that PSS decline in males is likely associated with High Neuroticism, while PSS decline in females may be associated instead with Low Extraversion. Future clinical implications include earlier identification of individuals who are at risk for decreased social support, and its related impact on health.