Table 2

Associations (ORs and 95% CIs) between satisfaction with each social relationship type and the accumulation of multimorbidity (n=7694)

Very satisfiedSatisfied
OR (95% CI)
Dissatisfied
OR (95% CI)
Very dissatisfied
OR (95% CI)
Models 1a–e (age and survey period adjusted)
 Partner/closest personRef1.13 (1.07 to 1.20)1.50 (1.38 to 1.63)1.95 (1.73 to 2.20)
 Family membersRef1.15 (1.09 to 1.22)1.76 (1.60 to 1.94)2.36 (1.93 to 2.88)
 FriendsRef1.12 (1.06 to 1.19)1.63 (1.46 to 1.82)2.33 (1.85 to 2.94)
 Work/career/studyRef1.11 (1.03 to 1.19)1.44 (1.32 to 1.57)2.11 (1.80 to 2.48)
 Social activitiesRef1.16 (1.09 to 1.24)1.79 (1.63 to 1.96)2.66 (2.24 to 3.16)
Models 2a–e (adjusted for age, survey period, SES, health behaviours and menopausal status)
 Partner/closest personRef1.09 (1.02 to 1.16)1.35 (1.22 to 1.48)1.63 (1.42 to 1.88)
 Family membersRef1.11 (1.05 to 1.18)1.52 (1.37 to 1.68)1.84 (1.47 to 2.31)
 FriendsRef1.10 (1.03 to 1.16)1.46 (1.30 to 1.65)1.88 (1.45 to 2.43)
 Work/career/studyRef1.10 (1.02 to 1.20)1.33 (1.21 to 1.46)1.66 (1.38 to 1.98)
 Social activitiesRef1.14 (1.06 to 1.22)1.56 (1.41 to 1.72)2.13 (1.76 to 2.58)
Model 3 (fully adjusted)
 Partner/closest personRef1.01 (0.93 to 1.09)1.09 (0.98 to 1.22)1.19 (1.00 to 1.40)
 Family membersRef1.04 (0.97 to 1.12)1.26 (1.11 to 1.42)1.37 (1.05 to 1.79)
 FriendsRef0.97 (0.89 to 1.05)0.97 (0.84 to 1.13)0.87 (0.61 to 1.24)
 Work/career/studyRef1.07 (0.98 to 1.17)1.19 (1.07 to 1.32)1.26 (1.04 to 1.54)
 Social activitiesRef1.09 (0.99 to 1.19)1.37 (1.20 to 1.56)1.73 (1.33 to 2.25)
  • Models 1a–e are five separate models for each social relationship adjusted for age and survey variables. Models 2a–e are five separate models for each social relationship adjusted for age, survey period, SES, health behaviours and menopausal variables. Model 3 includes all five social relationship types in one model, adjusted for age, survey period, SES, health behaviours and menopausal variables.

  • CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio; Ref, reference; SES, socioeconomic status.