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Exclusion from Social Relations in Later Life: Micro- and Macro-Level Patterns and Correlations in a European
Thomas Hansen1,2, Marcela Petrová Kafková3, Ruth Katz4
1Department of Mental health and Suicide, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|December 10, 2021
Summary
Exclusion from social relationships (ESR) is high in Southeast Europe, especially for women. National policies and societal factors significantly impact ESR in older adults, beyond individual resources.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Older adults are at high risk of exclusion from social relationships (ESR), with limited research on its predictors across diverse European contexts.
- Existing studies often focus on specific dimensions, countries, or time points, necessitating a broader, longitudinal examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and micro- and macro-level predictors of ESR among older adults (60+) across 14 European countries.
- To analyze four dimensions of ESR: household composition, social networks, social opportunities, and loneliness.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two waves of data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), collected four years apart.
- Examined micro-level predictors (age, gender, socioeconomic status, health, family responsibilities) and macro-level factors (social expenditures, unmet health needs, individualism, social and institutional trust).
Main Results:
- A significant northwest to southeast gradient in ESR was observed, with lower rates in Northwest European welfare states.
- Higher rates of ESR in the southeast were particularly pronounced among women.
- Individual factors like age, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer health increased ESR risk for both genders, while macro-level factors demonstrated significant associations independent of individual characteristics.
Conclusions:
- National policies, cultural norms, and structural characteristics play a crucial role in shaping social connectivity and mitigating ESR in older populations.
- Findings highlight the need for context-specific interventions addressing both individual vulnerabilities and broader societal determinants of social exclusion in aging.
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