scholarly journals The moderating role of social network size in the temporal association between formal social participation and mental health: a longitudinal analysis using two consecutive waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziggi Ivan Santini ◽  
Paul E. Jose ◽  
Ai Koyanagi ◽  
Charlotte Meilstrup ◽  
Line Nielsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Moderating Role

Abstract Introduction Previous studies have shown that engaging in formal social participation may protect against declining mental health, but social network size (the number of close social ties a person has) may moderate the relationship. We assessed the potential moderating role of social network size using longitudinal data. Methods Nationally representative data from two consecutive waves (2011, 2013) of the SHARE survey were analyzed. The data consisted of 38,300 adults from 13 European countries aged 50 years and older in 2011. Measures pertaining to formal social participation, social network size, quality of life, and depression symptoms were used. Multivariable linear regression models were conducted. Results The majority of participants (over 70% of the sample) had a social network size of four or less close social ties. We identified significant moderations in both models. Individuals with relatively few close social ties may have benefitted from formal social participation both in terms of reductions in depression symptoms and increases in quality of life, while formal social participation among those with many social ties did not appear to be beneficial, and may even to some extent have been detrimental. Conclusions Declines in mental health specifically among those with relatively few close social ties could potentially be prevented through the promotion of formal social participation. It is possible that such strategies could have a greater impact by specifically targeting individuals that are otherwise socially isolated. High levels of formal participation among those with relatively many close social ties may not be pragmatically beneficial.

Volunteering benefits life satisfaction over 4 years: The moderating role of social network size

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Da Jiang ◽  
Diane Hosking ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Moderating Role

Extraverts Have Larger Social Network Layers

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas V. Pollet ◽  
Sam G. B. Roberts ◽  
Robin I. M. Dunbar
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Outer Layer ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Emotional Intensity ◽  
Emotional Closeness ◽  
Network Layer ◽  
Network Layers ◽  
Social Network Size

Previous studies showed that extraversion influences social network size. However, it is unclear how extraversion affects the size of different layers of the network, and how extraversion relates to the emotional intensity of social relationships. We examined the relationships between extraversion, network size, and emotional closeness for 117 individuals. The results demonstrated that extraverts had larger networks at every layer (support clique, sympathy group, outer layer). The results were robust and were not attributable to potential confounds such as sex, though they were modest in size (raw correlations between extraversion and size of network layer, .20 < r < .23). However, extraverts were not emotionally closer to individuals in their network, even after controlling for network size. These results highlight the importance of considering not just social network size in relation to personality, but also the quality of relationships with network members.

scholarly journals Addressing Depression Symptoms among University Students under COVID-19 Restrictions—The Mediating Role of Stress and the Moderating Role of Resilience

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12752
Author(s):  
Chang Liu ◽  
Melinda McCabe ◽  
Sebastian Kellett-Renzella ◽  
Shruthi Shankar ◽  
Nardin Gerges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Moderating Role

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a decline in mental health globally. Compared to the general population, university students have been identified as a group vulnerable to developing depression symptoms during the pandemic. Social isolation, a signature mental health consequence under physical-distancing regulations, is a known predictor of depression symptoms during the pandemic. Yet, more research is required to understand the mechanism that underpins the isolation–depression association and identify psychological factors that may attenuate the association. The current study aimed to understand the role of stress and resilience in the isolation–depression association among university students. Methods: Data were collected from 1718 university students between 28 and 31 May 2020. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the mediating role of perceived stress and the moderating role of resilience in the isolation–depression association. Results: We found that perceived stress partially mediated the association between social isolation and depression symptoms. Both the direct and indirect effects were moderated by participants’ resilience levels. Conclusions: Social isolation during the pandemic may contribute to depression symptoms both directly and through elevated stress levels. As an internal strength, resilience may buffer the adverse effects of isolation and stress on depression symptoms. Targeted interventions including mindfulness and physical exercise training may provide promising results in reducing depression symptoms among university students and should be considered by university administrators particularly during times of imposed physical-distancing measures.

scholarly journals INTERNET USE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN AFRICA AND INDIA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley Monroe Shrum ◽  
Jonathan Teye Yevuyibor ◽  
Shriya Thakkar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Personal Networks ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Internet And Social Media

Prior research has shown that mental health in urban slums is associated with the a share number of older individuals in personal networks. This presentation will examine the extent to which that association is mediated through Internet and social media use. We conducted face to face interviews with residents (minimum 18 years) in two high density, low income areas of Accra (West Africa) and Trivandrum (Kerala, India), where local teams have conducted repeated studies of personal networks since 1994. Our preliminary results show that mobile phones are primary way in which respondents communicate with members of their core networks. Further preliminary results show that while research in high income areas has generally shown the importance of larger networks for positive mental health, our analysis of urban slums reveals a different pattern. First, there is no general association of larger networks with reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Second, one particular group of relationships is strongly associated with depression and anxiety: ties with older individuals. The questions we explore are: (1) To what extent are indicators of mental health related to indicators of Internet and social media usage? (2) To what extent are indicators of mental health related to indicators of social network size and composition? (3) To what extent are indicators of Internet and social media usage related to indicators of indicators of social network size and composition?

Examining Social Networks in Older Adults: What Predicts Communicative Participation?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 933-940
Author(s):  
Melanie Meeker ◽  
Kimberly C. McCullough ◽  
Gary H. McCullough ◽  
Usenime Akpanudo
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Early Identification ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Hearing Handicap ◽  
Communicative Participation

Purpose Social isolation is linked to cognitive decline and depression, which can be risk factors for developing dementia. The purpose of this study was to determine which of a variety of factors were associated with communicative participation as measured by social network size. Method Three hundred thirty-seven adults aged 65 years or older were administered assessments to evaluate social network size, cognition, hearing handicap, and quality of communicative participation. Results Cognition, education, living setting, and quality of communication life were associated to varying degrees with the construct of communicative participation as measured by social network size. Conclusion Assessment of these variables, along with early identification of cognitive decline, could play an important role in identifying elderly individuals at risk for limitations in communicative participation and associated consequences.

Mental Health among Older Adults with Caregiving Needs: The Role of Social Networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-167
Author(s):  
Fengyan Tang ◽  
Heejung Jang ◽  
Elizabeth A Mulvaney ◽  
Jane Seoyoon Lee ◽  
Donald Musa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Informal Social Support ◽  
Social Network Size

Abstract A major challenge facing an aging society is the increased caregiving needs among community-dwelling older adults with chronic conditions. Reliance on social relations may help address caregiving needs and maintain older adults’ mental well-being. This study examines the roles of different aspects of social relations—social network size, social support, and service use—in the association between caregiving needs and mental health status (MHS). Using a sample of adults age 55 and over in an urban setting, authors tested the direct, mediation, and moderation effects models of social relations. Structural equation modeling was applied and latent variables of caregiving needs, MHS, and social network size were identified. Results showed that caregiving needs and informal social support (that is, network size, positive support, and negative strain) were directly related to MHS and that informal social support partially mediated the negative effect of caregiving needs on MHS; by contrast, service use moderated the association, indicating that those with caregiving needs who used more services were in better MHS than their counterparts with less service use. Findings point to the importance of social work interventions aimed at improving social relations and enhancing awareness and access to social services.

scholarly journals Developing Knowledge-Based Resources: The Role of Entrepreneurs’ Social Network Size and Trust

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miaomiao Yin ◽  
Asghar Jahanshahi
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Developing Knowledge

Entrepreneurs’ social networks play a crucial role in developing knowledge-based resources for their new ventures. Although most studies in an entrepreneurship context find that trust is very important when entrepreneurs develop social networks, limited research examines how trust can explain the variation in the relationship between an entrepreneur’s social networks and a firm’s knowledge-based resources. Therefore, the major objective of the paper is to understand the effects of the size of an entrepreneur’s social network on his or her firm’s knowledge-based resources with high and low levels of trust. Our data were collected from surveys administered to 476 entrepreneurs in China in 2018. Our multiple regression analysis indicates that social networks reinforce knowledge-based resources in a situation where entrepreneurs highly trust their major networks partners in their business environment (e.g., family, close friends, consultants, suppliers, peers, etc.). However, with a low level of trust, the relationship between social network and knowledge-based resources is curvilinear (inverse U-shaped). Our empirical validations showed that the relationship between social network and a firm’s knowledge-based resources is highly contingent to the level of trust among network members.

scholarly journals The Association Between Social Resources and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Migrants and Non-Migrants Living in Guangzhou, China

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan Kit Hoi ◽  
Wen Chen ◽  
Fangjing Zhou ◽  
Kalon Sou ◽  
Brian J. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Social Resources ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Internal Migrant ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Patient Health

Background: Depression is a commonly studied mental disorder affecting Chinese internal (i.e., rural-to-urban) migrants. Social resources effectively reduce depression for many communities experiencing adversities. This study evaluated social-level risk factors for depression between internal migrant and non-migrant Chinese living in mainland China. Method: We conducted a random population-level survey among migrants and local residents living in Guangzhou, China. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews. We used items from the Social Support Rating Scale to measure social resource dimensions, including social network size, emotional support, structural social capital, and one (self-developed) item that measured belonging (an element of social cohesion). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 measured depression. Correlation and regression analyses of the partial sample (n = 678) were conducted to estimate the association between social resources and depression for migrants (n = 383) and non-migrants (n = 295). Results: Stratified regression analysis demonstrated that for migrants, greater belonging was associated with less depression, while age and larger friendship social network size was related to less depression among non-migrants. Conclusion: Differences emerged in our sample with regard to the types of social resources that are protective against depression between migrants and non-migrants. Interventions that provide opportunities for migrants to better integrate and feel welcomed into their new communities may reduce their depression symptoms.

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