Journal article
Differential associations of social support and social connectedness with structural features of social networks and the health status of older adults
Journal of aging and health, Vol.20(7), pp.872-893
10/2008
DOI: 10.1177/0898264308324626
PMID: 18815414
Abstract
This study explores the extent to which the constructs of social support and social connectedness differ in terms of their associations with the structural characteristics of social networks and the health status of older adults.
Trained interviewers conducted 126 face-to-face interviews with community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 85 years.
Having frequent contact with network members was positively associated with social support. Network density and having network members living in close proximity were positively associated with perceived social connectedness. Furthermore, perceived social connectedness had a significant positive association with health status, whereas social support did not.
Perceived social connectedness may be relatively more important to the health and well-being of older adults than the perceived availability of social support. Efforts to enhance older adults' social relationships can be focused on developing friends and companions, allowing them to feel socially engaged in society.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Differential associations of social support and social connectedness with structural features of social networks and the health status of older adults
- Creators
- Sato Ashida - The Ohio State University, and Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, 31 Center Dr. -- 31/B 1 B37C, Bethesda, MD 20802. ashidas@mail.nih.govCatherine A Heaney
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of aging and health, Vol.20(7), pp.872-893
- DOI
- 10.1177/0898264308324626
- PMID
- 18815414
- NLM abbreviation
- J Aging Health
- ISSN
- 0898-2643
- eISSN
- 1552-6887
- Publisher
- United States
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/2008
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984064183002771
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