@article{10902/23770,
year = {2021},
month = {12},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10902/23770},
abstract = {We aimed to determine whether social isolation is associated with higher health-care utilization among European older adults. We have used panel data (2004-2015) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to examine the impact of social isolation on general practitioner health-care use. More precisely, we have considered negative binomial panel count data models to study the main driving
factors. Socio-demographic, health, and social isolation measures are analyzed. Differences by Welfare Regimes have been also considered. Using two definitions of social isolation (Alone and Help), we have found that a sizeable proportion of those aged 50 years and older in Europe reported social isolation. Our results showed that while nonpartnership was significantly and positively correlated with health-care utilization (B =
0.03), providing help was significantly and negatively related with physician visits considering the full sample of European countries (B = -0.09). Differences by Welfare Regimes are highlighted. Also, Mediterranean countries consume more health-care services than other European ones. Targeting interventions for social isolated elders may significantly decrease general practitioner consultations and so health-care costs. Our findings provide several implications in current debates on the sustainability of welfare states.},
publisher = {Springer Netherlands},
publisher = {Applied Research in Quality of Life volume 16, pages 787-804 (2021)},
title = {Does Social Isolation Affect Medical Doctor Visits? New Evidence Among European Older Adults},
author = {Cantarero Prieto, David and Pascual Sáez, Marta and Blázquez Fernández, Carla},
}