Sex differences in the mediating effect of resilience on social support and cognitive function in older adults

This study assessed the social support-cognitive function relationship in older Chinese Han adults by sex, while examining the mediating effect of resilience. Community-dwelling participants (60-94 years, M = 70.85 ± 7.31; n = 333) completed questionnaires assessing social support, resilience, and cognitive function. The mediating effect of resilience by sex was tested through structural equation modeling. Cognitive function was lower in older age groups (70-79 and ≥80 years). In structural equation modeling, social support positively predicted cognitive function, while resilience mediated this relationship in both sexes. In men, alongside the direct contribution of objective support, the relationship between subjective support and cognitive function was completely mediated by tenacity. In women, tenacity partially mediated this relationship, whereas subjective support directly predicted cognitive function. This study provides evidence of the mediating effect of resilience in the social support-cognitive function relationship among older Chinese adults, revealing important sex differences.