The role of frailty, social networks, and depression in self-neglect in an older Chinese population: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Objectives: To identify the role of frailty, social networks, and depression in self-neglect in an older Chinese population. Methods: The study was conducted in 521 older adults recruited from four community healthcare centers in a district in Beijing, China. Participants were investigated by a set of questionnaires. Results: Frailty (0=0.150, p=0.759) was not associated with self-neglect of older adults. Social isolation (0=1.980, p<0.001) and depression (0=3.606, p<0.001) were both factors associated with self-neglect in older adults. Conclusion: Management of depression and improvement of social networks of older adults should be incorporated into interventional strategies to effectively control self-neglect. Understanding self-neglect and its associated factors will ultimately contribute to the intervention development and well-being of older adults. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Through a questionnaire survey, it was found that frailty, social networks, and depression play important roles in self-neglect among the older Chinese population. Social isolation and depression were both associated with self-neglect in older adults, while frailty was not. To effectively control self-neglect, the management of depression and improvement of social networks among older adults should be incorporated into intervention strategies.