Social networks and subjective wellbeing among older Europeans: does age make a difference?

Litwin, Howard; Stoeckel, Kimberly J.

doi:10.1017/s0144686x12000645

Cited by 65 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 47 publications

(51 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…These situations are often stressful for those involved, and can provide a sense of dependence, reduce self-esteem and consequently have a negative effect on QoL 19,21 . But the effect of the family structure on QoL may vary depending on the age group of the elderly person and other individual factors 22 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality of life and its association with work, the Internet, participation in groups and physical activity among the elderly from the EpiFloripa survey, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The study aimed to investigate the association between changes in social relations and physical activity on the quality of life of the elderly in the city of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Data on 1,197 elderly from two waves of the population and household survey, EpiFloripa Idoso, were analyzed. Multiple linear regression was performed to estimate association of social change variables and lifestyle on quality of life score (QoL; measured by CASP-16 Brazil, score can range from 0, which represents no QoL to 48, total satisfaction in all domains of CASP). The average QoL score in the sample was 37.6 (95%CI: 37.2; 38.1). The social relations that were associated with positive QoL score were to start to work, to continue to use the Internet, to start participating in religious or lifestyle groups, to remain and to become physically active, and for those who were physically active, but became inactive in the second wave. To remain living with family had a negative effect on QoL score for the elderly. Some changes in social relations had a positive effect on QoL, and results reaffirmed the importance of physical activity to healthy aging, since to pursue it in some of the waves was better than to remain inactive.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality of life and its association with work, the Internet, participation in groups and physical activity among the elderly from the EpiFloripa survey, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In support of these theoretical notions, research has consistently shown age-related changes and differences in social networks (Broese van Groenou, Hoogendijk, & van Tilburg, 2013;Cornwell, Schumm, Laumann, Kim, & Kim, 2014;van Tilburg, 1998;Wrzus, Hänel, Wagner, & Neyer, 2013), as well as age-dependent effects of social networks on wellbeing (Litwin & Stoeckel, 2013). Yet, although kin networks tend to be stable over the life span, significant changes have been observed primarily in the non-kin network, with an estimated reduction of one person per decade starting at the age of 60-65 years (Wrzus et al, 2013).…”

Section: Different Types Of Social Networkmentioning

confidence: 95%

Types of Non-kin Networks and Their Association With Survival in Late Adulthood: A Latent Class Approach

Ellwardt

Aartsen²,

Tilburg

2016

GERONB

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Integration into social networks is an important determinant of health and survival in late adulthood. We first identify different types of non-kin networks among older adults and second, investigate the association of these types with survival rates. Method: Official register information on mortality is combined with data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). The sample includes 2,440 Dutch respondents aged 54-85 at baseline in 1992 and six follow-ups covering a time span of 20 years. Using latent class analysis, respondents are classified into distinct types of non-kin networks, based on differences in number and variation of non-kin relations, social support received from non-kin, and contact frequency with non-kin. Next, membership in network types is related to mortality in a Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: There are four latent types of non-kin networks that vary in network size and support. These types differ in their associations with mortality, independent of sociodemographic and health confounders. Older adults integrated into networks high in both number and variation of supportive non-kin contacts have higher chances of survival than older adults embedded in networks low in either amount or variation of support or both. Discussion: A combination of structural and functional network characteristics should be taken into account when developing intervention programs aiming at increasing social integration outside the family network. Keywords: Epidemiology-Mortality-Social networks-Social supportOver the last four decades, social epidemiologists have convincingly demonstrated positive effects of integration into social networks on survival (Berkman & Syme, 1979;Ellwardt, van Tilburg, Aartsen, Wittek, & Steverink, 2015;Holt-Lunstad, Smith, & Layton, 2010; Litwin & ShiovitzEzra, 2006), with evidence being relatively congruent across general and specific populations, countries, time, and gender. At the same time, social isolation has been argued to be a chronically stressful condition contributing to the accumulation of age-related morbidity and functional decline over the life course, thereby bearing the risk of accelerated aging (Berkman, 1988). As there is large variability in survival, and integration in social networks varies within and across people, there is a growing interest in determining which types of social networks relate to high chances of survival in old age.Most studies developing network typologies have so far focused on the overall social network including kin and non-kin (e.g., family-based network vs. friends-based network) and subsequently related types to mental health (Fiori & Jager, 2012;Gibney & McGovern, 2011;Litwin & Stoeckel, 2014) Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 2017, Vol. 72, No. 4, 694-705 doi:10.1093 Advance Access publication October 17, 2016 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article-abstract/72/4/694/2328824 by guest on 07 June 2019 friends and confidants protect against mortality, whereas ...

show abstract

“…High contact frequencies have been commonly associated with higher levels of QOL or other indicators of well-being in North America and European countries 21,29,[38][39][40][41] . However, some studies have associated frequency of contact with lower wellbeing 42 or have concluded that there is no association between contact frequency and the QOL/well-being of the elderly 7,31,43,44 .…”

Section: Type Of Relationship and Qol/well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social networks and quality of life of elderly persons: a review and critical analysis of literature

Gouveia

Matos

Schouten

2016

Rev. bras. geriatr. gerontol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several studies have documented the importance of social networks for quality of life (QL) in old age. This article presents a review and critical analysis of the literature on the relationship between the social networks of the elderly and their QL/well-being. A survey using interdisciplinary search engines [Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Scholar Google, Science Direct and Online Knowledge Library (b-on)], followed by an in-depth examination of the 37 documents subsequently identified, selected based on content, the geographical context of the study and its publication date, suggested a number of tendencies. In the first place, networks of friends have a greater impact on the QL/wellbeing of elderly persons than family networks. Secondly, the positive effect of the existence of more than one type of relationship was revealed (such as simultaneous friendships and family relationships). Finally, literature suggests emotional closeness has a positive impact on QL/well-being. The present study exposed the lack of longitudinal studies into the causality between network characteristics and QL/well-being. It also revealed the lack of research on the relationship between social networks and QL/well-being in elderly persons living alone. One problematic aspect relates to the fact that few studies provide a definition of the QL measures they adopt, or the rationale behind the manner of their operationalization of the concept.

show abstract

Social networks and subjective wellbeing among older Europeans: does age make a difference?

Cited by 65 publications

References 47 publications

Quality of life and its association with work, the Internet, participation in groups and physical activity among the elderly from the EpiFloripa survey, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil

Quality of life and its association with work, the Internet, participation in groups and physical activity among the elderly from the EpiFloripa survey, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil

Types of Non-kin Networks and Their Association With Survival in Late Adulthood: A Latent Class Approach

Social networks and quality of life of elderly persons: a review and critical analysis of literature

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About