Dynamic Associations Between Social Interaction and Cognitive Function in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults

A Three‐Wave Comparison of Cross‐Lagged Panel and Random‐Intercept Cross‐Lagged Panel Models

Bibliographic Data

ID22420177
AuthorsS Li (0000-0001-7200-9539, University of Tsukuba), Haotian Gao (0009-0009-5386-6629, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan), Ruifeng Zhao (0000-0003-1874-3681, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan), Jinrui Zhang (0000-0003-1861-7554, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan), Meiling Qian (Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan), Maiko Shigeeda (0009-0007-5627-8705, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan), Mengxuan Wang (0009-0000-1301-9868, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan), Akihiro Kakuda (0009-0001-4648-8908, Department of Physical Therapy Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences Osaka Japan), Yuko Sawada (0000-0003-2784-5321, Department of Physical Therapy Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences Osaka Japan), Hiroshi Kinoshita (0000-0002-3904-2641, Department of Public Welfare Tobishima Japan), Rika Okumura (Department of Public Welfare Tobishima Japan), Yuriko Kawasaki (Department of Public Welfare Tobishima Japan), Tokie Anme (0000-0002-3361-7715, Faculty of Medicine University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume36
Issue4
Pagese70293-e70293
Publication date2026-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Community & Applied Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1052-9284 • E-ISSN: 1099-1298
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/casp.70293
OpenAlexW7165164500
LanguageEN
References cited29

This study aimed to clarify the longitudinal relationship between social interaction and cognitive function in later life. Longitudinal data were analysed from a cohort of 340 older adults across three waves (2014–2020). We employed Bayesian Cross‐Lagged Panel Models (CLPM) and Random‐Intercept Cross‐Lagged Panel Models (RI‐CLPM) to examine the reciprocal association between the Index of Social Interaction (ISI) and cognitive impairment risk. Higher social interaction at baseline (T1, 2014) predicted a lower risk of later cognitive impairment. After partitioning out trait‐like differences, a robust within‐person protective effect remained: a positive deviation in an individual's social interaction at baseline (relative to their own average) significantly predicted a reduced risk of later cognitive impairment. Autoregressive effects of cognitive risk were primarily driven by between‐person stability. No significant cross‐lagged effects were observed for changes between later timepoints, potentially reflecting the impact of advanced ageing or the COVID‐19 pandemic during the final wave. Proactively increasing social engagement in the young‐old stage provides a significant protective effect against cognitive decline. These findings support social prescribing as a viable non‐pharmacological strategy and emphasize that interventions targeting dynamic behavioural changes may be more effective than those focusing solely on baseline social status.

Cognition · Longitudinal study · Panel analysis · Panel data · Psychological intervention · Social cognitive theory · Social relation · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research · Health disparities and outcomes · Mental Health Research Topics

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