Social Capital and Self-Perceived Quality of Life-Interrelated Predictors of Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Older Adults

• Main Authors: Ioanna Apostolaki, Aleks Pepa, Antonis Vlassopoulos, Maria Kapsokefalou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: social capital; Mediterranean diet; elderly; mental health; physical health
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/9/3100

Living a healthy life in a supporting environment are key elements towards higher diet quality in older age. The Mediterranean Diet in Older Adults (MINOA) study collected cross-sectional data from adults ≥65 years old (<i>n</i> = 436) from April 2014 to November 2015 in rural Crete, aiming to understand the interrelations between Mediterranean Diet adherence, Social Capital and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL). Multivariate linear regression, carried out using SPSS 20.0, revealed that both Social Capital and HRQL has a positive impact on Mediterranean Diet adherence after adjustment for confounders and independently of each other. Total Social Capital as well as its Value of Life/Social Agency component (β = 0.04 and β = 0.1, <i>p</i> < 0.05, respectively) had a positive relationship with Mediterranean Diet adherence. As far as HRQL is concerned, only the Physical Health components were found to have a positive association with Mediterranean Diet adherence (β = 0.09, <i>p</i> < 0.001). At the same time Total Social Capital was also seen to have a positive relationship with perceived Physical and Mental Health (β = 0.21 and β = 0.28, <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). In a population of older adults Social Capital, HRQL and Mediterranean Diet adherence seem to share intricate interrelations that impact both diet quality and quality of life overall.