Relationship between socioeconomic status and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults: Mediating role of social support and perceived stress

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the mediating effects of social support and perceived stress on the association between socioeconomic status and cognitive function in older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 367 older adults recruited from three communities in Wuhan, China. Data on socioeconomic status (SES), social support, perceived stress, and cognitive function were collected through structured questionnaires. The mediating effect was estimated by the SPSS Process 3.5 macro. RESULTS: SES had a positive effect on cognitive function in older adults (B = 0.792, P < 0.001). Mediation analysis results indicated that the relationship between SES and cognitive function in older adults was influenced by social support (effect: 0.635, 95% CI [0.431, 0.855]) and perceived stress (effect: 0.235, 95% CI [0.118, 0.374]) both individually and jointly (effect: 0.182, 95% CI [0.004, 0.281]). CONCLUSION: Social support and perceived stress partially mediated the association between SES and cognitive function, indicating that the joint effects of SES, social support, and stress management highlighted the benefits of simultaneous and integrated interventions to reduce the burden of cognitive dysfunction.