scholarly journals Age and Gender Differences in Social Network Composition and Social Support Among Older Rural South Africans: Findings From the HAALSI Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Harling ◽  
Katherine Ann Morris ◽  
Lenore Manderson ◽  
Jessica M Perkins ◽  
Lisa F Berkman
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Age And Gender Differences ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Rural South Africa

Abstract Objectives Drawing on the “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH community in South Africa” (HAALSI) baseline survey, we present data on older adults’ social networks and receipt of social support in rural South Africa. We examine how age and gender differences in social network characteristics matched with patterns predicted by theories of choice- and constraint-based network contraction in older adults. Method We used regression analysis on data for 5,059 South African adults aged 40 and older. Results Older respondents reported fewer important social contacts and less frequent communication than their middle-aged peers, largely due to fewer nonkin connections. Network size difference between older and younger respondents was greater for women than for men. These gender and age differences were explicable by much higher levels of widowhood among older women compared to younger women and older men. There was no evidence for employment-related network contraction or selective retention of emotionally supportive ties. Discussion Marriage-related structural constraints impacted on older women’s social networks in rural South Africa, but did not explain choice-based network contraction. These findings suggest that many older women in rural Africa, a growing population, may have an unmet need for social support.

Social Relationships and Inflammatory Markers in the MIDUS Cohort: The Role of Age and Gender Differences

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 904-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ari J. Elliot ◽  
Kathi L. Heffner ◽  
Christopher J. Mooney ◽  
Jan A. Moynihan ◽  
Benjamin P. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
The United States ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Age And Gender Differences ◽  
And Gender

Objective: To better understand age and gender differences in associations of social relationships with chronic inflammation. Method: Using a sample of middle-aged and older adults ( N = 963) from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) biomarker project, we examined interactions of age and gender with structural and functional social network measures in predicting interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: Significant interactions involving age and gender showed that social support was associated with lower IL-6 in older women, whereas perceived positive relationships and social integration were related to lower IL-6 in both men and women of advanced age. Functional measures were associated with higher CRP in both men and women after adjustment for health conditions and behaviors, with some further variation by age. Discussion: Greater social support may be related to lower IL-6 in older women. Further research is needed to understand observed associations of social support with higher CRP.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Implications of Social Integration for Age and Gender Differences in Late-Life Physical Functioning

2020 ◽  
pp. 009141502098075
Author(s):  
Masahiro Toyama ◽  
Heather R. Fuller ◽  
Jonix Owino
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Model ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Age And Gender Differences ◽  
And Gender

Social integration has documented benefits for late-life health; yet, little is known about its impacts on trajectories of physical functioning. This study examines age and gender differences in the longitudinal associations between social integration and activities of daily living (ADLs) using a hierarchical linear model with three waves of survey data collected over 4 years from the Social Integration and Aging Study ( N = 400; baseline mean age = 80.3). Findings indicated some interaction effects of age, gender, and/or social integration on ADL trajectories. Among those of more advanced age, women showed greater increases in ADL limitations than men, and individuals with lower social integration experienced greater increases in ADL limitations than those with higher social integration. Neither of these patterns were found among younger older adults. This study highlights the benefits of longitudinal research on social integration and the need to explore practical interventions for promoting social integration particularly among the oldest older adults.

Different dimensions of ageist attitudes among men and women: a multigenerational perspective

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 895-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehud Bodner ◽  
Yoav S. Bergman ◽  
Sara Cohen-Fridel
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Age And Gender Differences ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Age Range

ABSTRACTBackground: Ageism, a form of prejudice in which one relates negatively to people due to their age, exists throughout life. However, no attempt has been made to compare ageist attitudes across the life cycle, from young adulthood to old age. Consequently, the current study examined age and gender differences in ageism throughout adulthood.Methods: 955 Israeli participants (age range: 18–98 years) were divided into three age-groups: young (18–39), middle-aged (40–67), and old (68–98), and were administered the Fraboni Scale of Ageism. Age and gender differences were examined both for the three groups and for subgroups within the older adult cohort.Results: Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that middle-aged participants were significantly more ageist than younger and older groups. Across all age groups, men exhibited more avoidance and stereotypical attitudes toward older adults than women. Among the old age group, participants aged 81–98 held more ageist stereotypes and reported more avoidance of older adults than those aged 68–73. Within the older adult cohort, gender was a significant predictor for ageist attitudes among those aged 68–73 and 81–98, but not for people aged 74–80.Conclusions: Ageism demonstrates a changing pattern across the life span. While gender differences remain stable, ageist attitudes toward growing old as we age ourselves are constantly changing. In order to gain a better understanding of ageism as a general and global phenomenon, we need to consider the role of such attitudes in different stages of life.

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