Influence of the Social Network on Married and Unmarried Older Adults’ Mental Health

Abstract

The never married may depend more on family and friends than the previously or unhappily married. Any compensation efforts among the latter failed to reduce depressive symptoms relative to happily married others. Older adults in high-quality marriages benefit from their marital relationship, and also benefit from supportive family and friend ties.

Social Frailty and Depression Among Older Adults in Ghana: Insights from the WHO SAGE Surveys

“…Similar to previous studies, our findings suggest the protective effect of marriage on psychosocial wellbeing or depression. Studies show the marriage offer older adults companionship, financial, physical and emotional support often absent for persons who have lost or separated (or divorced) their partners and never married individuals (King et al, 2019; Stokes & Moorman, 2018). The loss of one’s partner and breakdown of a marriage can also have negative consequences on the mental health of a person.…”

The Good, the Bad, and the Indifferent: Physical Disability, Social Role Configurations, and Changes in Loneliness Among Married and Unmarried Older Adults

“…Despite these limitations, these results advance our understanding of the importance of social relations for loneliness among older adults with functional limitations and the ways these processes are similar and different for married and unmarried persons. Although married older adults are generally less lonely than unmarried older adults (Russell, 2009), the quality of social relations and how they combine across different relationships matters (Hawkins & Booth, 2005; Stokes & Moorman, 2017). For both married and unmarried older adults, in general, social relations characterized by a lack of support and/or an abundance of negative interactions are associated with higher baseline levels of and increases in loneliness over time.…”

“…Higher levels of negative marital quality, conversely, are associated with adverse effects over time, including having more health problems (Walen & Lachman, 2000) and exacerbating depressive symptoms among functionally limited older adults (Bookwala & Franks, 2005). Overall, a low quality marriage—independent of functional status—is associated with worse mental and physical health (Hawkins & Booth, 2005; Stokes & Moorman, 2017).…”

For better or for worse mental health? The role of social networks for exogamous older couples

“…Regardless of migration background, social interactions with family and friends have been shown to be strongly linked to better mental health for the older population (Burholt et al, 2018;Cohen, 2004;Cramm et al, 2013;House et al, 1988;Shaw et al, 2007;Steptoe & Fancourt, 2019;Stokes & Moorman, 2018), consistent with the idea of linked lives (Mortimer & Shanahan, 2007). Regular social engagement with friends and family is essential to mental health for people of all ages (House et al, 1988), but the relationship of the two intensifies near retirement age or empty nest (Cattan et al, 2005) due to the reshuffling of balance toward personal life as work and child rearing obligations subside.…”