Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Methodology for Establishing a Community-Wide Life Laboratory for Capturing Unobtrusive and Continuous Remote Activity and Health Data
Published on: July 27, 2018
Social networks among older Australians: a validation of Glass's model
Lynne C Giles1, Patricia A Metcalf, Craig S Anderson
1Faculty of Health Studies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Lynne.Giles@rgh.sa.gov.au
Background:
The purpose of the study was to validate a set of measures of social networks that will be useful in epidemiological studies of the health of older persons.
Methods:
Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test a multi-dimensional model of social networks. Data were drawn from The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing, conducted in the greater metropolitan area of Adelaide, South Australia. Participants were 1477 persons aged > or = 70 years who lived in the community or an institution and took part in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Social networks with children, other relatives, friends and confidants were considered. Demographic indicators of gender, age group, income, education, marital status and place of residence were also measured, and social networks were compared for categories of these variables.
Results:
Networks with children, relatives, friends and confidants were substantiated in these analyses. Differences in networks between categories of the demographic variables were evident.
Discussion:
Adoption of the proposed measures will allow greater comparability between studies of older persons. This could lead to a better understanding of the effect of specific social networks upon health.
Related Concept Videos
Social Proof
Relationship Formation
Social Exchange Theory
Social Relationships and Well-Being
Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
Social Exchange Theory

