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Social disadvantage, context and network dynamics in later life
1Department of Sociology, Cornell University, 347 Uris Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA. nf263@cornell.edu.
European Journal of Ageing
|May 27, 2023
Summary
Personal networks of older adults change with age, influenced by race, education, and neighborhood social ties. Disadvantaged groups often have smaller networks but more frequent contact with confidants.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Social Network Analysis
Background:
- Understanding how personal social networks change throughout aging is crucial for public health.
- Social disadvantage and contextual factors may significantly impact social connectedness in later life.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the longitudinal dynamics of older adults' egocentric networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the evolution of personal networks in older adults over a decade.
- To investigate the influence of social disadvantage and contextual factors on network dynamics.
- To analyze changes in network size, contact frequency, and kin proportion.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal, nationally representative data from 1,168 older adults (National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project).
- Employed between-within models to differentiate individual and group-level effects.
- Assessed sociodemographic characteristics, contextual factors, and network attributes (size, contact frequency, kin proportion).
Main Results:
- Network changes varied by race/ethnicity and education; Black and Hispanic individuals had smaller networks but higher contact frequency.
- Less educated older adults exhibited smaller networks, higher contact frequency, and a greater proportion of kin.
- Positive mental health, employment, and strong neighborhood ties were associated with larger network size and/or higher contact frequency.
Conclusions:
- Social disadvantage and contextual factors are linked to specific, often less favorable, network characteristics in later life.
- These findings help explain the concentration of social disadvantage among certain populations.
- Personal network dynamics in aging are complex and influenced by a interplay of individual and environmental factors.
Keywords:
Between-within modelsContextual factorsNetwork dynamics in later lifeSocial connectednessSocial disadvantageMore Related Videos
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