Associations of systemic inflammation with frontotemporal functional network connectivity and out-degree social-network size in community-dwelling older adults

Social support and social networks are important correlates of elder mistreatment. This study tests hypothesized associations between perceived social support, social network size, and financial exploitation (FE). A population-based survey of 903 older adults (60+) in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) found that lower perceived social support and larger social networks were simultaneously associated with higher risk for FE since age 60, controlling for known risk factors. The same associations were found for FE in the last 6 months. Older adults with larger social networks combined with lower perceived social support were most likely to report FE. When it comes to the role of social relationships and risk for FE, “more may not always be better.” Encouragement to widen the social network by “making new friends” should be stressed less than making sure these new network members will truly be supportive of the older adult.

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Social networks moderate the association between physical fitness and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults: a population-based study

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02617-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hui Foh Foong ◽

Rahimah Ibrahim ◽

Tengku Aizan Hamid ◽

Sharifah Azizah Haron

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Hierarchical Multiple Regression ◽

Low Levels ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Physical fitness declines with age. Low levels of physical fitness appear to be a risk factor of cognitive impairment. Literature elucidates social networking as a potential moderator for the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive impairment. Present study aimed to examine the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive function among community-dwelling older Malaysians, and if social network moderates said relationship. Methods Data of 2322 representative community-dwelling older adults were obtained from the first wave of the “Longitudinal Study on Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity” national survey. Cognitive function, physical fitness and social network was assessed through Malay-version of Mini-Mental State Examination, 2-min step test and Lubben Social Network Scale-6 respectively. Moderated hierarchical multiple regression was employed to investigate if social networks moderate the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive function. Results A positive association between physical fitness and cognitive function were found upon controlling for covariates. Moderated hierarchical multiple regression revealed social networks to be a moderator of the association between physical fitness and cognitive function. When physical fitness was low, those with small social network revealed lowest cognitive function. Conclusions Social networks moderated the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive function as older adults with low levels of physical fitness and small social networks revealed lowest cognitive function. Therefore, community support or peer-based interventions among physically unfit older adults should be implemented to promote cognitive function.

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Physical Activity and Social Network Contacts in Community Dwelling Older Adults

Activities Adaptation & Aging ◽

10.1300/j016v27n03_08 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 27 (3-4) ◽

pp. 113-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Elizabeth M. Bertera

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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

Social Work Research ◽

10.1093/swr/svz013 ◽

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.

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The relationship between social network site usage and loneliness and mental health in community-dwelling older adults

Primary Health Care ◽

10.7748/phc.25.6.16.s26 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 16-16

Author(s):

Caroline McGraw

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Social Network Site ◽

Network Site ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

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Impact of Social Network Size and Contact Frequency on Resilience in Community-Dwelling Healthy Older Adults Living Alone in the Republic of Korea

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18116061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 6061

Author(s):

Sangmi Park ◽

Tae Hui Kim ◽

Tae Rim Eom

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Care Service ◽

Network Size ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Living Alone ◽

Social Health ◽

The Public ◽

Contact Frequency

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of social health and its association with resilience among older adults living alone excluded from the public care service due to their relatively good health. For this cross-sectional study, we surveyed older adults aged between 65 and 80 years using questionnaires to measure the social health status and levels of resilience of the participants. We conducted a hierarchical regression analysis to confirm the association between resilience and social network. Finally, data from 266 community-dwelling older adults were analyzed. We discovered that participants had social networks with a mean score on the Lubben Social Network Scale 18.13 ± 7.98, which means they were socially isolated. The network size (standardized β = −0.149, p < 0.05) and contact frequency (standardized β = 0.136, p < 0.05) correlated positively with higher levels of resilience. A hierarchical model accounted for 48.0% of the variance in resilience. The results suggested that interventions by the public health service to protect social health are needed for older adults living alone even when they are physically, emotionally, and cognitively healthy. In addition, smaller network size and higher frequency of contacts may be considered to strengthen resilience, which is a protective factor in social health.

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EFFECTS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORK ON AMERICAN OLDER ADULTS’ MEMORY FUNCTIONS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3383 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S929-S930

Author(s):

Ethan Siu Leung Cheung ◽

Kedong Ding

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Memory Function ◽

Network Size ◽

Support Network ◽

Memory Functions ◽

Social Network Size ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: Previous studies have found older adults’ cognitive functions are strongly associated with their social networks, including memory. Yet, few studies have explored the influences of specific social network members, such as siblings and children. Further, little studies examined the impact of the size of older adults’ social networks. Hence, this study aimed to investigate how older adults’ relationships with their spouses, siblings, and children, as well as the size of their social networks, affect American older adults’ memory functions. Methods: Using the 2018 data from NHATS, 5547 samples were included. We adopted a multiple logistic regression model to test the impact of social support network sizes, and how associations of social support networks varied between spouses, siblings, and children. All models were calibrated for age, gender, education, income, and race/ethnicity. Results: Analysis showed that higher socioeconomic status (more education and without Medicaid), being female, and younger age were associated with increased odds of having good self-rated memory functions. Older adults with larger social support networks (>=3 individuals) were more likely to have better self-rated memory function (adjusted odds ratio, 1.182, p<0.05), while holding other variables. Having a spouse also increased odds of higher self-rating memory function, in contrast to having children. Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of having a larger social network size for older adult’s memory function and indicated the necessity of developing intervention programs to expand older adults' social network size, especially for those with lower socioeconomic status.

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Social Support, Isolation, Loneliness, and Health Among Older Adults in the PRISM Randomized Controlled Trial

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.728658 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Sara J. Czaja ◽

Jerad H. Moxley ◽

Wendy A. Rogers

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Network Size ◽

Functional Impairments ◽

Social Connectivity ◽

Social Network Size ◽

Socially Isolated ◽

Aging Adults

Objectives: Social isolation and loneliness are serious public health issues given the association with negative physical, mental; and cognitive health outcomes and increased risk for mortality. Due to changes in life circumstances many aging adults are socially isolated and experience loneliness. We examined the relationships among four correlated but distinct constructs: social network size, social support, social isolation, and loneliness as they relate to indices of health and wellbeing among diverse subpopulations of older adults. Guided by WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) we also examined factors that predict loneliness and social isolation.Methods: Analyses of baseline data from sample of older adults who participated in an intervention trial that examined the beneficial effects of a software system designed to support access to resources and information, and social connectivity. Participants included 300 individuals aged 65–98, who lived alone, were primarily of lower socio-economic status and ethnically diverse. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, self-report measures of health, depression, social network size, social support, and loneliness.Results: Loneliness was strongly associated with depression and self-ratings of health. In turn, greater social isolation and less social support were associated with greater loneliness. Social isolation was associated with depression and lower self-ratings of health. The association between social isolation and health was mediated by loneliness. Individuals in the older cohorts (80+) reported less social support. With respect to loneliness, having a smaller social network, more functional limitations, and limitations in engaging meaningful activities was associated with higher levels of loneliness and greater social isolation.Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of social connectively to wellbeing for older adults and suggest that those in the older cohorts, who have a small social network, and with greater physical and functional impairments may be particularly vulnerable to being socially isolated and lonely. The findings provide guidance for future interventions. In this regard, we discuss how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may be used to promote social connectivity and engagement. Strategies to make the usability and availability of these applications for aging adults are highlighted.

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