Social network and mobility improvement among older Europeans: the ambiguous role of family ties

Abstract

This study examined the social network correlates of improvement in lower extremity mobility among respondents aged 65 and older from the longitudinal sample of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. The study focused on those who self-reported having difficulties with four lower extremity functions: (1) walking 100 m; (2) rising from a seated position; (3) climbing flights of steps; and (4) stooping, kneeling, or crouching. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that social networks were variously associated with improvement in lower extremity function at the two-year follow-up. The findings suggest that under certain circumstances, a lack of social support in late life may actually promote mobility improvement. The research also shows that family networks are not always facilitative of mobility improvement. This is in contrast to previously published social network research positing that supportive relationships help foster health and buffer stressors in late life. Family caregivers and social services should keep this in mind when devising treatment plans upon discharge from the hospital and implementing care management plans for frail older persons in the community.

Social Networks and Health Among Older Adults in Lebanon: The Mediating Role of Support and Trust

“…Network types have been shown to be associated with health. In particular, Litwin and Stoeckel (2013) found older adults with either diverse or friend/neighbor-focused networks reported fewer difficulties performing instrumental activities of daily living compared with those with restricted networks. In terms of mental health, networks with strong heterogeneous ties (i.e., different ages, social classes, etc.)…”

“…However, our findings contradict some previous empirical findings. For example, Litwin and Stoeckel (2013) found older adults with diverse or friend-focused networks reported fewer health limitations. This discrepancy may be attributable to cultural variations in patterns of social relations as well as different patterns related to health in non-western settings.…”

Generational differences in spatial mobility: A study with mobile phone data

“…Empirical studies in this field focus mostly on external factors such as the availability of leisure activities (Mollenkopf, Hieber, & Wahl, ) and transport (Hjorthol, Levin, & Sirén, ) or housing amenities (Collins, Havens, & Tate, ) to enhance life quality. Studies concerning ageing as a process that may result in the loss of mobility due to health and functional abilities (Swiaczny, ) or social networks as possible facilitators of mobility (Litwin & Stoeckel, ) are less dominant in this strand of literature. However, such conceptions of generation are often criticised (Hörschelmann, ; Mannheim, ) because they promote a biological perspective and neglect social factors, the latter being more key to the other two approaches of life course perspective and sociohistorical theory.…”

Effects of social network diversity in the disablement process: a comparison of causal inference methods and an outcome-wide approach to the Indonesian Family Life Surveys, 2007–2015

“…However, the evidence on spousal and parent-child (ren) relationships offers very heterogeneous results. Some studies have found that childlessness can have positive effects on old-age mobility but that relationships with co-residing children can increase the risk of future disability [131]. Additionally, more nuanced analyses of spousal relationships have differential effects on mobility impairment and disability depending on whether the spouse provides emotional support, which facilitates improvement, or instrumental support, which obviates the overcoming of limitations [131].…”