The Impact of Social Support on Treatment Participation and Completion in a Disability Prevention Intervention for Older Adults

Objectives: This study evaluates the role of emotional and instrumental social support on treatment participation and completion using the Positive Minds-Strong Bodies (PMSB) disability prevention program. Methods: Data from a multisite randomized controlled trial of the PMSB program for older adults (>= 60 years) with physical impairment and mild to severe depression and/or anxiety were used. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) plus 36 sessions of group exercise or usual care. Results: Adjusting for covariates, higher levels of emotional social support at baseline were associated with increased odds of completing the recommended number of CBT sessions (6 or more, OR = 2.58, p = .030), attending 5.56 more exercise sessions (p = .006), and increased odds of completing the recommended exercise sessions (25 or more, OR = 2.37, p = .047). Discussion: Emotional social support appears to increase dosage in a disability prevention program.

Automated summary

The study findings suggest that emotional social support plays a positive role in facilitating participation and completion in disability prevention programs.