Life course partnership history and objectively measured physical functional ability in Danish middle-aged adults

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

ABSTRACT
Background Partnership break-up
and living alone
is associated with several negative health-related
outcomes. Little is known about the association with
physical functional ability in a life course perspective.
The aim of this study is to investigate (1) the association
between number of partnership break-ups
and years
living alone across 26 years of adult life respectively
and objectively measured physical capability in midlife,
(2) how the joint exposure of accumulated break-ups
or years living alone respectively, and education relates
to physical capability in midlife and (3) potential gender
differences.
Methods Longitudinal study of 5001 Danes aged
48–62. Accumulated number of partnership break-ups
and years living alone were retrieved from national
registers. Handgrip strength (HGS) and number of chair
rises (CR) were recorded as outcomes in multivariate
linear regression analyses adjusted for sociodemographic
factors, early major life events and personality.
Results Increasing number of years living alone was
associated with poorer HGS and fewer CR. Concomitant
exposure to short educational level and break-ups
or
long duration of time living alone respectively was
associated with poorer physical capability compared with
the groups with long educational level and no break-ups
or few years lived alone.
Conclusion Accumulated number of years living alone
but not break-ups
was associated with poorer physical
functional ability. Joint exposure to a high number of
years lived alone or break-ups
respectively and having
a short education was associated with the lowest levels
of functional ability, which points towards an important
target group for interventions. No gender differences
were suggested.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Epidemiology & Community Health
Vol/bind77
Udgave nummer6
Sider (fra-til)369-374
Antal sider6
ISSN0143-005X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

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