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Social support and well-being: preliminary indicators based on two samples of the elderly
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Elderly individuals in South Miami Beach have fewer social support figures, especially men, impacting their health and life satisfaction. This highlights a high-risk subgroup of older men lacking support.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Social support is crucial for well-being in older adults.
- Geographic location and personal circumstances can influence social networks.
- Understanding these factors is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the structure of social support between a national sample and a distressed elderly sample in South Miami Beach.
- To examine the relationship between social support, health, affect, and life satisfaction in these groups.
- To identify high-risk subgroups among the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of two elderly samples: national representative and South Miami Beach distressed.
- Assessment of social support network size, structure, and geographic proximity.
- Correlational analysis of social support with health, affect, and life satisfaction.
Main Results:
- The South Miami Beach sample reported fewer support figures and less geographic proximity compared to the national sample.
- Social network impoverishment was more pronounced in male respondents, with a higher number of isolates.
- Stronger associations were found between support network size and affect, and between affect, life satisfaction, and health in the distressed sample.
Conclusions:
- Elderly individuals in distressed environments, particularly men, face significant social network impoverishment.
- This network impoverishment is linked to poorer affect, life satisfaction, and health outcomes.
- Older men in poor health lacking supportive relationships represent a particularly vulnerable subgroup requiring focused attention.