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Social class differences in social support among older adults
1Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
The Gerontologist
|August 1, 1995
Summary
Social class impacts older adults' social support, particularly friend contact and satisfaction. Family contact and received support show no significant social class differences in this study.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Social support is crucial for older adults' well-being.
- Socioeconomic factors may influence the nature and extent of social support networks in later life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate social class disparities in various dimensions of social support among the elderly population.
- To determine if social class influences contact with friends and family, support provision and receipt, and satisfaction with social support.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a nationwide sample of older adults.
- Employed comprehensive measures assessing multiple facets of social support.
- Analyzed data to identify differences based on social class indicators.
Main Results:
- Social class differences were observed in contact with friends.
- Support provided to others and satisfaction with received support also varied significantly by social class.
- No significant social class differences were found in contact with family, support received from others, or negative social interactions.
Conclusions:
- Social class is a relevant factor in understanding social support dynamics among older adults, specifically concerning friendships and perceived support.
- The findings highlight the nuanced relationship between socioeconomic status and social connectedness in later life.
- Future research should explore the mechanisms driving these observed social class differences in social support.