scholarly journals The association between frailty and satisfaction with social contacts in the general older population

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Nguyen ◽  
E Braekman ◽  
S Demarest ◽  
J Van der Heyden
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older People ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Household Composition ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Older Population ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Frailty Status ◽  
Social Component ◽  
The Social

Abstract Background As a result of the demographic evolution, the proportion of older people will continue to increase in the coming decades. Frailty among elderly is one of the important challenges that Europe is facing. From a biomedical, perspective frailty is considered as a clinical syndrome that increases vulnerability. However, the role of social contacts in relation to frailty needs to be investigated. In this study, we assessed the association between frailty and perceived satisfaction with social contacts in a sample of the general older population. Methods This study was conducted on a representative sample of 2364, both institutionalized and non-institutionalized older participants (≥65 years) from the Belgian Health Interview Survey 2018. Frailty was assessed with the instrument used in the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) including dimensions of the Fried phenotype: exhaustion, weight loss, muscle strength, weakness and physical activity. The Oslo-3 Social Support Scale (OSS-3) was used to assess perceived quality of social support. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between frailty status and satisfaction with social contacts while controlling for age, gender, region, educational attainment and household composition. Results The prevalence of frailty was 22.8% (95%CI:21.2-24.6). The results showed that elderly who are unsatisfied with their social contacts are more likely to be frail (OR(95%CI):4.65 (2.82-7.66)). In addition, being older ≥75 years (OR(95%CI):2.40 (1.68-3.43)), being female (OR(95%CI):2.48 (1.73-3.56)), having a lower education (OR(95%CI):2.57 (1.71-3.87)), living alone (OR(95%CI):1.58 (1.10-2.27)) were associated with frailty. Conclusions Frailty is associated with living alone and being unsatisfied with the social contacts, among older people in Belgium. These findings confirm that the social component should be taken into account in strategies to reduce frailty in the general older population. Key messages Frailty is associated with living alone and being unsatisfied with the social contacts, among older people in Belgium. The social component should be taken into account in strategies to reduce frailty in the general older population.

The social capital of older people

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNE GRAY
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Older People ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Occupational Groups ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Sports Clubs ◽  
Practical Support ◽  
The Social

ABSTRACTHow can the ‘social capital’ inherent in social networks provide contacts through which older people access practical and emotional support? What is the relative importance of kin and non-kin, and of participation in organisations and informal ties such as contacts with neighbours? Following a brief contextualisation that draws on previous literature, this paper addresses these questions through analysis of British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) data. It examines the extent to which people feel they can count on emotional and practical support from friends and relatives. A dependent variable was created that measures the outcome of the ‘social capital’ residing in a respondent's social network. Relatively poor support was found amongst elders who were childless or had been continuously without a partner; relatively rich support was found amongst those who had frequent contact with other people, who interacted frequently with neighbours, and who regarded their neighbourhood as a positive social environment. Being active in organisations had less effect on social support than informal social contacts. Amongst many different forms of organisational activity, the only ones that had a positive association with social support were being in contact with others through religious activities, and engaging in sports clubs. The social support of working-class elders, even those ‘well networked’ in formal or informal ways, was strengthened less by their social capital than was that of the professional and managerial occupational groups.

Aging Alone, Gossiping Together: Older Adults’ Talk as Social Glue

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
pp. 1474-1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacy Torres
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
New York ◽  
Older People ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Emotional Intimacy ◽  
Public Places ◽  
The Social ◽  
Formal Organizations ◽  
Negative Reputation

AbstractObjectivesWhile older adults living alone face challenges to maintaining social ties, elders in urban areas also have unique opportunities for daily socializing that can buffer against loneliness.MethodDrawing on 5 years of ethnographic fieldwork among elders in New York City, this study presents empirical insights into the development of supplementary neighborhood-based networks of support for older people living alone and vulnerable to isolation.ResultsThis study finds that elders who lived alone, without close kin, engaged in daily gossip about other older people they encountered as regulars in local eateries. Despite its negative reputation, gossip helped them connect and access less conventional social support close to home. The majority resisted formal organizations, such as churches or senior centers, and thus their interactions in public venues served as an important source of social involvement. In line with Gluckman’s argument (1963), gossip betrayed emotional intimacy and caretaking that connected people who could have fallen off the social radar.DiscussionHigher rates of divorce and lifelong singlehood, coupled with increased longevity, will compel greater numbers of older adults to construct alternative support networks. My findings suggest that more will draw these connections from unconventional venues such as neighborhood public places.

Canadian Men’s Health Literacy: A Nationally Representative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 993-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Oliffe ◽  
Donald R. McCreary ◽  
Nick Black ◽  
Ryan Flannigan ◽  
S. Larry Goldenberg
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Promotion Programs

Though men’s health promotion has attracted increased research attention, conspicuously absent have been empirical insights to health literacy levels within and across male subgroups. Recent advancements in the measurement of health literacy have made available avenues for evaluating individual and social determinants of health literacy. Important insights can be drawn to detail patterns and diversity among men as a means to informing the design, implementation, and evaluation of tailored health promotion programs. Drawing on 2000 Canada-based men’s responses to the Health Literacy Questionnaire, correlations between demographic variables and six health literacy scales are described. Low income, low education, and living alone were associated with men’s low health literacy, with the strongest effect sizes for the “Social support for health” and “Actively engaged with health care professionals” scales. Multiple linear regressions confirmed low income as the strongest predictor of men’s low health literacy in all the scales except “Appraisal of health information.” Low income, self-identifying as gay, bisexual, or other, and living alone were strongly predictive of low scores on the “Social support for health” scale. The findings affirm the importance of considering men’s health literacy and inequities to advance effective men’s health promotion programs.

Loneliness and social support of older people living alone in a county of Shanghai, China

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Chen ◽  
Allan Hicks ◽  
Alison E. While
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older People ◽  
Living Alone

scholarly journals The Effect of Social Media Use on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults with Self-Reported Hearing Impairment: An Empirical Study

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1403
Author(s):  
Yiming Ma ◽  
Changyong Liang ◽  
Xuejie Yang ◽  
Haitao Zhang ◽  
Shuping Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Older People ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Subjective Aging

Older people with hearing impairment are more likely to develop depressive symptoms due to physical disability and loss of social communication. This study investigated the effects of social media on social relations, subjective aging, and depressive symptoms in these older adults based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework. It provides new empirical evidence to support improving the mental health and rebuilding the social relations of older people. A formal questionnaire was designed using the Wenjuanxing platform and distributed online through WeChat; 643 valid questionnaires were received from older people with self-reported hearing impairments, and SmartPLS 3.28 was used to analyze the data. The results show that (1) social media significantly impacts the social relations of older people with hearing impairment (social networks, β = 0.132, T = 3.444; social support, β = 0.129, T = 2.95; social isolation, β = 0.107, T = 2.505). (2) For these older people, social isolation has the biggest impact on their psychosocial loss (β = 0.456, T = 10.458), followed by the impact of social support (β = 0.103, T = 2.014); a hypothesis about social network size was not confirmed (β = 0.007, T = 0.182). Both social media (β = 0.096, T = 2.249) and social support (β = 0.174, T = 4.434) significantly affect the self-efficacy of hearing-impaired older people. (3) Both subjective aging (psychosocial loss, β = 0.260, T = 6.036; self-efficacy, β = 0.106, T = 3.15) and social isolation (β = 0.268, T = 6.307) significantly affect depressive symptoms in older people with hearing impairment. This study expands the theories of social media aging cognition, social support, and social networks and can provide practical contributions to the social media use and mental health of special persons 60 years and older.

Use of the Social Health Battery in an Elderly Population

1993 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1001-1002
Author(s):  
Brian G. Ortmeier
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Coefficient Alpha ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Reliable Measure ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Group Participation ◽  
The Social

The Social Health Battery, a measure of social support developed by Donald and Ware, has only been tested in a population of individuals aged 14 to 61 years. As part of a larger study, the battery was administered to adults aged 61 to 93 years. Internal consistencies, Cronbach coefficient alpha, indicated that the scale and its subscales, Social Contacts and Group Participation, appear to be a reliable measure of social support for a geriatric population.

Social support of older people in Australia and Japan

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
HAL KENDIG ◽  
WATARU KOYANO ◽  
TATSUTO ASAKAWA ◽  
TAKATOSHI ANDO
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older People ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
The Social ◽  
Long Life ◽  
East And West ◽  
The Many

Comparable networks surveys identified the informal relationships which provide social support to older people in urban Japan, provincial Japan, and urban Australia. Spouses, daughters, and sons were major providers of expressive support in all areas. Older Australians had more expressive support from friends while older Japanese had more instrumental support from daughters-in-law. The gender of the older people and their close ties were highly significant in all areas. The many similarities in the social support patterns contrast sharply with East and West differences in cultural prescripts and living arrangements. In these two advanced countries with long life expectancies and high living standards, older people's interpersonal relationships may be converging on the basis of selective affection and choice, rather than obligation, with individuals in and beyond the household and family.

scholarly journals The importance of social financial support in reducing food insecurity among elderly people

Food Security ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Gajda ◽  
Marzena Jeżewska-Zychowicz
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Older People ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Household Composition ◽  
Financial Assistance ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Social

AbstractThe growing number of elderly people who are at increased risk of food insecurity for a variety of reasons, including financial ones, requires the current situation to be monitored. The purpose of this research was therefore to determine: (1) how older people perceive their situation in terms of food security; (2) whether older people use any form of external financial support; and (3) the relationship between people’s perception of their food security and the use of financial support from social services and their family. The survey was conducted on a group of 1150 people aged 65 years and above at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. In total, 762 questionnaires were analysed for the study. The study was conducted in the Świętokrzyskie and Śląskie voivodeships (provinces). Multivariate correspondence analysis (MCA) and the chi-square test were used to compare qualitative variables describing food security, financial assistance and socio-demographic features. Over two thirds of the respondents declared that they had no need of financial assistance from the social services or their family. Two categories of variables were selected using the MCA method: people who declared that their household had food security and that they had no need for financial assistance from social services or their family, and people who said they did not have food security and simultaneously used financial assistance or did not use such assistance but had financial problems. Place of residence and household composition were features that significantly distinguished the opinions about the lack of food security. Financial social programmes and the social education of families should be improved to minimize the risk of food insecurity in households of elderly people, especially those not benefiting from financial social support.

Loneliness and social support among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people aged 50 and over

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1961-1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARK HUGHES
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
New South ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Biological Family ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Promoting

ABSTRACTLoneliness is a debilitating condition with particular negative health effects, including psychological distress. While the vast majority of older people do not experience significant degrees of loneliness, a minority do and there are some reports that this is even greater among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) seniors. This article examines the experience of loneliness and social support among LGBTI people aged 50 and over living in New South Wales, Australia. It also explores their interest in participating in social and health-promoting activities. Findings from an online survey delivered to 312 people are reported. Loneliness was associated with living alone, not being in a relationship, higher psychological distress and lower mental health. Nonetheless, most respondents reported that they are able to gain support from both biological family and friends if they need it in a crisis. The social and health-promoting activities that were most preferred among all respondents were fitness groups, walking groups, swimming and meditation. Those who experienced the greatest degree of loneliness were much more likely than those who were less lonely to want to participate in social and health-promoting activities with other LGBTI people. The findings indicate scope for community organisations to develop targeted interventions, such as those social and health-promoting activities most preferred by the participants of this study.

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