ArticleThe Gerontologist2020
Social Relationships and Functional Impairment in Aging Cancer Survivors: A Longitudinal Social Network Study.
Article in The Gerontologist, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 38 citations in OpenAlex.
- How effective is peer-to-peer support in cancer patients and survivors? A systematic review.Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology · 2023Pooled it
- Association of social determinants of health and physical functioning among breast cancer survivors.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Article
- Strategies for promoting exercise adherence within a cancer exercise recovery program: a qualitative case study.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- The mediating roles of social support and sleep quality in the relationship between depression and cognitive function among older adults living with HIV in China.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Assessing social support networks in cancer survivors and their care partners: concordance between expected and received support.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2025Article
- Chronic loneliness and isolation phenotypes, incident functional impairment and mortality in England between 2004 and 2018.Nature. Mental health · 2025Article
- Spanish Society of Medical Oncology recommendations for comprehensive assessment and care of cancer survivors' needs.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2025Review
- Association between intergenerational contact and cognitive function in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: The mediating role of functional disability and depressive symptoms.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Active social engagement and health among older adults: assessing differences by cancer survivorship status.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2024Article
- Restricted life-space mobility impacts physical but not mental quality of life in older cancer survivors.Cancer medicine · 2024Article
- Depression among older adults in an urban slum of Raipur city - a community based cross-sectional study.BMC geriatrics · 2023Article
- The Role of Community Cohesion in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Epidemic: Cross-sectional Study.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2023Article
- Tailored Psychological Interventions to Manage Body Image: An Opinion Study on Breast Cancer Survivors.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Social Relationships and Onset of Functional Limitation among Older Adults with Chronic Conditions: Does gender matter?Sultan Qaboos University medical journal · 2023Article
- Social participation during the COVID-19 pandemic in persons with a high risk for a severe course of COVID-19 - results of a longitudinal, multi-center observational study in Germany.Health psychology and behavioral medicine · 2023Article
- A cancer survivorship model for holistic cancer care and research.Canadian oncology nursing journal = Revue canadienne de nursing oncologique · 2023Article
- The role of social networks in the self-management support for young women recently diagnosed with breast cancer.PloS one · 2023Article
- Article
- Review
- Cognitive dysfunction prevalence and associated factors in older breast cancer survivors.Journal of geriatric oncology · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesThe intersection of cancer, treatment, and aging accelerates functional decline. Social networks, through the provision of social support and resources, may slow the progression of functional deterioration. Socioemotional selectivity theory posits that aging and major life events, like cancer, cause an intentional social network pruning to procure and maintain emotionally fulfilling bonds, while shedding weaker, less supportive relationships. However, it is relatively unknown if such network changes impact functional impairment in cancer survivors. This study examined the relationships between changes in the egocentric social network and functional impairment in older adult cancer survivors and a similarly aged group without cancer (older adults). RESEARCH DESIGN AND
methodsData were analyzed from 1,481 community dwelling older adults (n = 201 cancer survivors) aged 57-85 years, from Waves 1 and 2 (2005-2006 and 2010-2011) of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. Associations were analyzed with multiple logistic regression.
resultsCancer survivors and older adults reported similar levels of functional impairment and social network change. Adding 2 new relationships exhibited protective effects against functional impairment, irrespective of cancer status (odds ratio [OR]: 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.41-0.99). Declines in frequent contact were associated with higher odds of functional impairment among cancer survivors (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.15-3.20). Social network components were not significantly associated with functional impairment in older adults. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Adding new relationships may reduce disability in older adults and increasing network contact may help cancer survivors remain independent. Social network interventions may improve quality of life for older adults.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.