Social support as a moderator of physical disability and mental health in older Vietnamese immigrants in the U.S.: Results from the Vietnamese aging and care survey (VACS).

Small convenience sample of 132 older Vietnamese immigrants in Houston, so results may not apply to other Vietnamese communities or older adults outside the U.S. Participants were mostly recruited from senior centers, daycare sites, and community groups, and many were likely active and independent; homebound or long-term care residents were excluded. The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot show that disability caused depression or loneliness, or that social support changed either outcome. Disability, depression, and loneliness may influence each other over time, but this was not tested. The social support measure captured availability of support but may have missed reciprocal closeness with family and peers.

The authors declared no competing interests. The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural research.

Do not conclude that increasing social support will reduce depression or loneliness. This was a cross-sectional survey of community-dwelling older adults, and it did not test an intervention; social support was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms.