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Social ties and mortality in Evans County, Georgia
American Journal of Epidemiology
|April 1, 1986
Summary
Social networks modestly impact survivorship, with fewer social ties linked to reduced longevity, especially in older individuals. This study replicated earlier findings on social connection and mortality risk.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Social Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Social networks are crucial for health outcomes.
- Berkman and Syme's 1979 study established a link between social connections and mortality.
- Replicating this in diverse populations is essential for validating findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between a social network index and survivorship.
- To replicate Berkman and Syme's study in the Evans County, Georgia cohort.
- To examine the impact of social ties on mortality over a 13-year period.
Main Methods:
- A social network index was constructed, mirroring Berkman's.
- Race- and sex-specific proportional hazards models were used.
- Data from 2,059 subjects (1967-1980) from the Evans County Cardiovascular Epidemiologic Study were analyzed.
Main Results:
- A modest social network effect on survivorship was observed (HR 1.6).
- Among white males, lower social network index scores were associated with higher mortality risk (HR 2.0, reduced to 1.5 after confounder adjustment).
- Effects were weaker and nonsignificant for white females, black males, and black females; reduced survivorship was most pronounced in older subjects with few social ties.
Conclusions:
- Social networks appear to influence survivorship, though the effect size varies by race and sex.
- The strongest association was observed in white males, with limited social ties predicting poorer survival.
- Further research into specific social activities and marital status may refine understanding of social network impacts on longevity.