Skip to main content

Table 1 Summary of Variables

From: Social isolation and health outcomes among older people in China

Variable

Description

Coding

Percentage/Mean

(N=5,419)

Dependent variable (Health outcomes in 2014)

Self-reported health (SRH)

It originally contains 5 ordered scales: very good, good, fair, poor, and very poor.

0= very good and good

38.87%

1= very poor, poor and fair

61.13%

Cognitive impairment

It is measured with the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); the total score range is 0–30.

0= MMSE score less than 18

79.27%

1= MMSE more than 18

20.73%

Difficulty with ADLs

It includes 6 indexes: bathing, dressing, using the toilet, indoor walking, eating, and getting up and down.

0= no difficulty with any of the six ADLs

73.44%

1= difficulty with any of the six ADLs

26.56%

Difficulty with IADLs

It includes 8 indexes: visiting neighbours, going shopping, making food, washing clothes, walking one kilometre, carrying 5kg weight, crouching and standing three times, and taking public transportation.

0= no difficulty with any of the eight IADLs

34.71%

1= difficulty with any of the eight IADLs

65.29%

Independent variable

Kinlessness

 

Have no spouse

0=Married and live with spouse

38.44%

1=Never married

1.14%

2=Recent loss of spouse

6.24%

3=Distant loss of spouse

54.18%

Have no children

0=Have living children

85.13%

1=Never gave birth

2.18%

2=Recent loss of children

10.96%

3=Distant loss of children

1.73%

Have no siblings

0=Have living siblings

54.71%

1=Have no siblings in lifetime

5.50%

2=Recent loss of siblings

9.19%

3=Distant loss of siblings

30.60%

Lack of social contacts

   

Live alone

Those who became solitary living between 2011 and 2014

0= no

97.45%

1= yes

2.55%

Had no children visiting

Those whose children were alive but ceased frequent visiting between 2011 and 2014

0= no

85.17%

1= yes

14.83%

Had no siblings visiting

Those whose siblings were alive but ceased frequent visiting between 2011 and 2014

0= no

81.15%

1= yes

18.85%

Not participating in social activities

Those who withdrew from social activities between 2011 and 2014

0= no

87.52%

1= yes

12.48%

Subjective social isolation

   

Felt lonely

Those who reported loneliness between 2011 and 2014

0= no

79.9%

1= yes

20.1%

Had no one to talk

Those who were not able to find anyone to talk when in need between 2011 and 2014

0= no

95.79%

1= yes

4.21%

Had no one to seek for help

Those who were not able to find anyone to seek for help when in need between 2011 and 2014

0= no

89.5%

1= yes

10.5%

Covariates (in 2011)

Age

 

Min=65 Max=114

Mean=82.08

Sex

 

0= female

53.37%

1= male

46.63%

Self-rated SES

Self-rated socioeconomic status

1= lower

16.08%

2= fair

65.12%

3= higher

18.8%

Education

Years of schooling

Min=0 Max=20

Mean=2.64

Residence

Living in the rural area

0= no

56.74%

1= yes

43.26%

Smoking

Smoke at present

0= no

87.61%

1= yes

12.39%

Drinking

Drink at present

0= no

82.86%

1= yes

17.14%

Leisure activities

It includes 3 indexes: gardening, reading, and watching TV. The score range of each item is from 0–4, presenting the frequency of doing the leisure activities: never, sometimes, monthly, weekly, every day.

Min=0 Max=12

Mean=4.64

Physical exercise

Regular exercise at present

0= no

82.89%

1= yes

17.11%

Social services

Whether the respondent receive any social services in their community: personal care, home visit, psychological consulting, daily shopping, social and recreation, legal aid, healthcare education.

0= no

46.9%

1= yes

53.1%