How is Self-Rated Health Related to the Social Network in Frail/Pre-Frail Older Adults: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study Assessing Healthy Aging in Three Less Privileged Urban Neighborhoods

This prospective cross-sectional study examined whether a beneficial social network can buffer the negative association between frailty/pre-frailty and self-rated health among older adults in three less privileged urban neighborhoods. The final sample of 561 Berlin residents aged ≥65 (mean age 75.56 ± 6.66 years, 62.4% female) was assessed using the Frailty Phenotype and the Lubben Social Network Scale. Confounder-adjusted linear regression analyses were performed. The analyses showed that a strong social network is associated with better subjective health for non-frail and pre-frail older adults, but this buffering effect was not observed among frail individuals. We conclude that strengthening social networks may be beneficial for the subjective health of non-frail and pre-frail older adults. This buffering effect may diminish with advanced physiological limitations.