Moderating effects of psychosocial attributes on the association between risk factors and disability in later life

This study examined the roles of psychosocial attributes in the associations between potential risk factors (age, gender, marital status, education, and chronic conditions) and disability in later life, and in particular how neuroticism and social resources (social network, received support, and satisfaction with support) modify the linkages between risk factors and disability. The main and moderating effects were empirically tested using a sample of 444 community-dwelling older adults in Florida (M age=72.3) who were cognitively intact. The likelihood of disability increased with advancing age, more chronic conditions, higher levels of neuroticism, more received support, and less satisfaction with support. In addition to the main effects, neuroticism and received support interacted with age and chronic conditions, strengthening the associations between risk factors and disability. Results suggested that personality and social support deserve greater attention as factors that can alter the disability process.