[Social support and perceived health status in non-institutionalized population over 60 years of age]

The purpose of this study is to describe the degree of social support in a sample of non-institutionalized population aged 60 and over and to explore possible relations between social support and perceived health.

We analyse data coming from Barcelona 1992 Health Survey. Sociodemographic and perceived health variables are analysed together with several social support variables based on the presence and number of available people for instrumental and emotional support necessity and perceived aid need for personal care and daily needs.

In the study period, 1156 subjects aged 60 and over were interviewed at home. 20% of the sample (28.9% were women) lived alone and 28.2% (41.7% were women) were widowed. 43% had an extensive social support and 51% had a good emotional support. The men with less emotional support had a worse perceived health (OR = 2.7, IC 95% = 1.3-5.5). Only aid need for daily works in women was associated with worse perceived health (OR = 6.3, IC 95% = 3.2-12.4).

Instrumental and emotional support availability weren't associated with perceived health in women in spite of they lived alone in a greatest proportion. In men, only emotional support absence was associated with worse perceived health.