Family Networks, Social Networks, and Life Satisfaction of Older Adults in China

Abstract

Older adults’ family networks and social networks are important factors that influence life satisfaction, but their transmission mechanisms have not been adequately discussed. The objective of this study was to examine the mechanisms through which family networks and social networks influence the life satisfaction of older adults. We empirically examined the effects and mechanisms of older adults’ family networks and social networks on their life satisfaction using the 2018 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey with a sample size of 11,418 older adults aged 60 years and older. In the research sample, 6.47% of older adults were subjected to at least one form of mistreatment. The research results indicate that family networks (β = 0.0060, p < 0.05) and social networks (β = 0.0122, p < 0.01) have a significant positive effect on older adults’ life satisfaction. The mechanism-of-action test found that family networks and social networks enhance older adults’ life satisfaction, mainly by reducing the level of physical mistreatment they experience, but these networks cannot improve the life satisfaction of the elderly by reducing their emotional mistreatment. Further research found that community-provided medical escorts, home chores, and meal delivery services can all alleviate the decline in life satisfaction among older adults due to emotional mistreatment. This study deepens our understanding of how older adults’ family and social networks affect their life satisfaction as we examine the mediating role of the physical and emotional mistreatment of older adults and discuss the effects of potential policy interventions.

Do Community Home-Based Elderly Care Services Improve Life Satisfaction of Chinese Older Adults? An Empirical Analysis Based on the 2018 CLHLS Dataset

“…Drawing on existing studies on the factors influencing the life satisfaction of Chinese older adults, 21 variables in four areas—personal characteristics [ 22 ], lifestyle habits [ 22 ], physical and mental health level [ 29 ], and family support status of older adults [ 23 ]—were selected as control variables.…”

“…Most studies only selected the individual characteristics and living habits of the elderly as control variables [ 21 , 22 ]. However, in China, which is still dominated by family retirement, financial, health, and emotional support from family has a significant impact on the elderly [ 23 ]. Only a few studies include these as relevant control variables, such as Chen and Hao’s study on the mental health of the elderly [ 24 ] and Yao et al‘s study on the physical and mental health of the elderly [ 25 ].…”

Effect of online and offline social network group clusters on life satisfaction across age groups

“…Social networks have been widely studied regarding their association with health outcomes [ 10 , 14 , 39 , 97 , 117 ]. Previous studies have highlighted that social networks are related to life satisfaction [ 23 , 41 , 91 ]. Therefore, focusing on social groups may be the simplest or most fundamental intervention for social networks to improve life satisfaction.…”

By Internal Network or by External Network?—Study on the Social Network Mechanism of Reducing the Perception of Old-Age Support Risks of Rural Elders in China

“…Among them, family networks has the “reverse structure” in age sequences and has very important effects on the well-being of the rural elderly [ 22 ]. Family networks could also improve life satisfaction for the elderly by decreasing the level of physical abuse they experience [ 23 ]. Older adults’ interactions with their friend networks could enhance their sense of self-worth, improve negative psychological states [ 24 , 25 ], and enhance the health status [ 19 ].…”