Association between childhood war experiences and social frailty in older age

Abstract

aim: This study aimed to examine the association between childhood war experiences and social frailty in later life among community-dwelling older adults. methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 134 participants aged 70 years and older. Social frailty was assessed using a questionnaire comprising five items, including frequency of going out and social roles, and war experience was determined through a questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed with social frailty as the dependent variable and war experience as the independent variable, adjusting for sex, age, educational history, and polypharmacy. results: War experienced persons had a significantly higher likelihood of social frailty than non-experienced persons, indicating a significant association (adjusted odds ratio 2.60, 95% confidence interval 1.02-6.61). conclusion: War experiences in childhood may affect social health in old age, and prevention of social frailty requires continuous support based on a life course approach.