Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
The Social Standing versus the Mind Standing of Older Adults in Egypt: Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions
Introduction: Egypt's population, much like that of other countries, is expected to age considerably over the course of the coming decades. Although biological and socioeconomic predictors of cognitive function have been studied widely, personal level social capital remains unexplored, especially in...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Published: |
AUC Knowledge Fountain
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613425199218688 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Shinaishen, Shaza H, Dr |
| author_browse | Shinaishen, Shaza H, Dr |
| author_facet | Shinaishen, Shaza H, Dr |
| author_sort | Shinaishen, Shaza H, Dr |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Introduction: Egypt's population, much like that of other countries, is expected to age considerably over the course of the coming decades. Although biological and socioeconomic predictors of cognitive function have been studied widely, personal level social capital remains unexplored, especially in LMICs.
Purpose: This study primarily investigates the relationship between individual social capital and cognitive functioning among older adults aged 65 years and older in Egypt using the structural and cognitive components of social capital, including group membership, civic engagements, and caregiving roles.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey on 363 older individuals in different geographical and demographic segments of Egypt using proportionate stratified sampling. Cognitive function was assessed using culturally adapted m-ACE tool, while individual-level social capital was assessed by SASCAT through a face-to-face interviewing method.
Results: Several aspects of individual social capital were significantly associated with cognitive function. Group membership (p =0.010), civic engagement (p < 0.001), and caregiving responsibility (p < 0.001) were all positively associated with m-ACE scores, irrespective of their socioeconomic status (SES) and other demographic factors. However, age and education level significantly predicted cognitive outcomes. Social capital has retained a strong independent effect on cognitive performance while considering SES and other covariates.
Conclusions: Individual social capital significantly increases cognitive health in older Egyptians. Evidence from this study can serve as support for designing inclusive, age-friendly policies and practices that create civic participation, social inclusion, and community engagement for older persons, among other areas. Accordingly, there is a pressing need for culturally informed measurement tools, tailored to LMIC environments. Moreover, the social determinants of cognitive aging need to be integrated into sustainable aging policies in Egypt and similar context countries. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-3563 |
| institution | American University in Cairo (Egypt) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:35:56.457Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | AUC Knowledge Fountain |
| publisherStr | AUC Knowledge Fountain |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress |
| spelling | oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-3563 The Social Standing versus the Mind Standing of Older Adults in Egypt: Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions Shinaishen, Shaza H, Dr Introduction: Egypt's population, much like that of other countries, is expected to age considerably over the course of the coming decades. Although biological and socioeconomic predictors of cognitive function have been studied widely, personal level social capital remains unexplored, especially in LMICs. Purpose: This study primarily investigates the relationship between individual social capital and cognitive functioning among older adults aged 65 years and older in Egypt using the structural and cognitive components of social capital, including group membership, civic engagements, and caregiving roles. Methods: A cross-sectional survey on 363 older individuals in different geographical and demographic segments of Egypt using proportionate stratified sampling. Cognitive function was assessed using culturally adapted m-ACE tool, while individual-level social capital was assessed by SASCAT through a face-to-face interviewing method. Results: Several aspects of individual social capital were significantly associated with cognitive function. Group membership (p =0.010), civic engagement (p < 0.001), and caregiving responsibility (p < 0.001) were all positively associated with m-ACE scores, irrespective of their socioeconomic status (SES) and other demographic factors. However, age and education level significantly predicted cognitive outcomes. Social capital has retained a strong independent effect on cognitive performance while considering SES and other covariates. Conclusions: Individual social capital significantly increases cognitive health in older Egyptians. Evidence from this study can serve as support for designing inclusive, age-friendly policies and practices that create civic participation, social inclusion, and community engagement for older persons, among other areas. Accordingly, there is a pressing need for culturally informed measurement tools, tailored to LMIC environments. Moreover, the social determinants of cognitive aging need to be integrated into sustainable aging policies in Egypt and similar context countries. 2025-06-18T07:00:00Z thesis application/pdf https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2515 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/3563/viewcontent/shaza_hany_shinaishen_thesis.pdf Theses and Dissertations AUC Knowledge Fountain social capital older adults Egypt aging civic engagement group membership public health social determinants. Civic and Community Engagement Cognitive Science Community-Based Learning Community Health Community Health and Preventive Medicine Health Policy Other Mental and Social Health Other Public Health Public Health Education and Promotion Social Policy |
| spellingShingle | social capital older adults Egypt aging civic engagement group membership public health social determinants. Civic and Community Engagement Cognitive Science Community-Based Learning Community Health Community Health and Preventive Medicine Health Policy Other Mental and Social Health Other Public Health Public Health Education and Promotion Social Policy Shinaishen, Shaza H, Dr The Social Standing versus the Mind Standing of Older Adults in Egypt: Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions |
| title | The Social Standing versus the Mind Standing of Older Adults in Egypt: Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions |
| title_full | The Social Standing versus the Mind Standing of Older Adults in Egypt: Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions |
| title_fullStr | The Social Standing versus the Mind Standing of Older Adults in Egypt: Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Social Standing versus the Mind Standing of Older Adults in Egypt: Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions |
| title_short | The Social Standing versus the Mind Standing of Older Adults in Egypt: Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Functions |
| title_sort | social standing versus the mind standing of older adults in egypt cross sectional analysis of the relationship between social capital and cognitive functions |
| topic | social capital older adults Egypt aging civic engagement group membership public health social determinants. Civic and Community Engagement Cognitive Science Community-Based Learning Community Health Community Health and Preventive Medicine Health Policy Other Mental and Social Health Other Public Health Public Health Education and Promotion Social Policy |
| url | https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2515 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/3563/viewcontent/shaza_hany_shinaishen_thesis.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shinaishenshazahdr thesocialstandingversusthemindstandingofolderadultsinegyptcrosssectionalanalysisoftherelationshipbetweensocialcapitalandcognitivefunctions AT shinaishenshazahdr socialstandingversusthemindstandingofolderadultsinegyptcrosssectionalanalysisoftherelationshipbetweensocialcapitalandcognitivefunctions |