Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41814188›Full record

Observational studyBMC geriatrics2026

The role of social isolation in the association between childhood friendships and frailty in older adults: evidence from a national cohort study.

Bin Ma, Yue Hou, Yuanmin Jia, Yanhong Dong, Mengyuan Zhang, Hecun Xiao, Ou Chen

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC geriatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Bin MaSchool of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yue HouSchool of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yuanmin JiaSchool of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yanhong DongAlice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Mengyuan ZhangSchool of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Hecun XiaoDepartment of Nephrology, Multidisciplinary Innovation Center for Nephrology, The Second Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China. 853985194@qq.com.
Ou ChenSchool of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China. chenou@sdu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China,China 82172543National Natural Science Foundation of shandong province ZR2020MH006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectsThis study examines how social isolation affects the relationship between childhood friendships and frailty in older adults, aiming to provide insights for improving their health.

designA Longitudinal study guided by the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology.

methodsData from the CHARLS database (2014, 2015, 2018) were analyzed. Correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were used to explore the relationships between childhood friendships, social isolation, and frailty.

resultsAmong 4,132 participants, 1,363 (33.0%) were identified as frail. Childhood friendships were negatively associated with frailty and social isolation, while social isolation was positively associated with frailty. Mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect (-0.0040, 95% CI: -0.0055, -0.0027), indicating that social isolation mediates the relationship between childhood friendships and frailty.

conclusionSocial isolation can exacerbate the effects of adverse childhood experiences on subsequent frailty. Targeted interventions should be developed to reduce social isolation and maintain health in older adults.

Indexed as

Frail ElderlyFrailtyFriendsSocial IsolationAgedAged, 80 and overCohort StudiesFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleChildhood friendshipsCohort studyFrailtyOlder adultsSocial isolation

Identifiers

PMID41814188
PMCPMC13088678

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.