Male and Female Trajectories of Social Isolation in Russia from 1994 To 2017

Purpose: To determine gender differences in trends of social support levels in an open population aged 25-64 years over long-term period - 23 years in Russia / Siberia (Novosibirsk). Methods: Within the framework of the screening in 1994-95 under the WHO MONICA-psychosocial (MOPSY) program (n = 1527, 43% males, mean age 44.85 ± 0.4 years), in 2003-2005 under the international project HAPIEE (n=1650, 34,9% males, mean age 54,25±0,2 years), in 2013-2016 (n=975, 43,8% males, mean age 34,5±0,4 years) and 2016-2017 гг.( n=663, 41,3% years 51,95±0,32 years) within the framework of the budgetary theme No. АААА-А17-117112850280-2, random representative samples of men and women in one of districts in Novosibirsk were examined. Social support is assessed using the Berkman-Syme scale. The index of close contacts (ICC) and social networks (SNI) was assessed. Results: In 1994, a high prevalence of a low level of close contacts was established in an open population of 25-64 years, more pronounced among men compared with women (62% vs 56.8%). In 2003 and 2013, there was a trend towards a decrease in the frequency of the low close contact index to 46-50%, although the ICC levels did not differ by gender. In 2017, on the contrary, women were 14.4% more likely to show a lack of close contacts compared to men, especially in the 45-54 age group, where the low ICC rate exceeded the 1994 level. The prevalence of low SNI in an open population of 25-64 years in 1994 was similar for men and women and was 77%. In 2003-2005, women in older age groups showed a slight increase in the frequency of low SNI levels up to 80.1%. By 2013, a downward trend in the frequency of low SNI among young age groups of both sexes was established, but this trend turned out to be unstable, and after a short period of time the SNI indicators returned to the 1994 levels. Conclusion: In the period 1994-2005, a high level of social isolation among men and women was determined in the open population. By 2017, the clear trend in the increase in the level of social interactions changed to a negative side, especially among women in the 45-54 age group.