ArticleAnnals of geriatric medicine and research2025
The Association of Family and Friend Networks with Appetite: Structural Equation Modeling of the Indirect Effects of Depression among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
Article in Annals of geriatric medicine and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Prospective Associations between Self-perceived Voice Disorders and Psychological, Social, and Physical Well-being among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Annals of geriatric medicine and research · 2026Article
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10 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundAppetite loss in older adults raises the risk of malnutrition and frailty. The recent emphasis on psychological and social support for appetite loss reveals the importance of robust social networks. Depression is linked to a decline in appetite and social networks. Social networks may influence appetite directly and indirectly through depression. This exploratory cross-sectional study categorizes social networks into family and friend networks to elucidate their direct and indirect effects.
methodsThe study analyzed 193 community-dwelling older adults (women 78.2%; mean age 77.1±5.3 years) who participated in health-checkup events in two cities in Japan. Appetite was assessed using the Japanese version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire, and family and friend networks were assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale-6. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Based on previous research, we constructed a causal model examining the impacts of family and friend social networks and depression on appetite and calculated the direct and indirect effects through structural equation modeling.
resultsThe family network had a direct effect on appetite (path coefficient=0.18) and an indirect effect via depression (path coefficient=0.0608). Conversely, the friend network was not directly associated with appetite but had an indirect effect through depression (path coefficient=0.095). The model exhibited a good fit. The mechanism of influence on appetite varied between the networks.
conclusionTo prevent appetite loss, social networks with family and friends should be assessed separately, and tailored support should be provided for each.
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