TYPES OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH MOBILITY AND DISABILITY IN LATE LIFE

Abstract Social networks are critical in maintaining late-life functional health, but, previous studies have focused on isolated dimensions of social networks. We examined whether network types, representing multiple interrelated network characteristics, are associated with mobility and disability among older adults in America. Data are from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a nationally representative study of 3,005 adults aged 57-85 years at baseline (2005-2006). In a previous analysis, five social network types were derived at baseline, based on nine observed network characteristics. Functional outcomes were examined during two follow-up waves in 2010-2011 and 2015-2016. Mobility-related function was assessed as the time (in seconds) to complete a 6-meter walk. Disability was defined as experiencing any difficulty in performing one of six activities of daily living (ADLs). We estimated the effect of network types on risk of ADL disability onset using logistic regression, and on mobility using generalized linear mixed models. Social network type was associated with mobility over time, such that older adults in the “restricted” network had significantly slower walking times than those in the “diverse” network. There was no association between network types and risk of disability onset in the primary analysis. However, sensitivity analyses showed a protective effect of the “partner-centered” network on a 5-year, but not a 10-year, risk of disability onset. Network types can elucidate older adults’ varied interpersonal and caregiving networks, and identify adults at risk of being socially isolated. However, the utility of network types in predicting late-life functional health may be limited.

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EXPANDING SOCIAL TIES AS A GOAL IN LATER LIFE: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.623 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S175-S175

Author(s):

Danielle Oleskiewicz ◽

Karen Rook

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Social Ties ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Support Provision ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Network Composition

Abstract Older adults often winnow their social ties to focus on emotionally rewarding ties (Charles & Carstensen, 2010). Some older adults, however, have small social networks that preclude much winnowing or aversive social ties from which disengagement is difficult. These individuals might be motivated to expand, rather than contract, their social ties. The current study sought to extend knowledge regarding potential links between social network characteristics and older adults’ interest, effort, and success in creating new social ties. We expected that small social networks and negative social ties might motivate interest and effort directed toward forming new social ties but that positive social ties might foster success in efforts to form new ties. In-person interviews were conducted with participants (N = 351, Mean age = 74.16) in a larger study of older adults’ social networks and well-being. The interviews assessed participants’ social networks, as well as their interest, effort, and success in making new social ties. Participants’ social network composition, rather than size, was associated with greater motivation to establish new social ties. Negative social ties were associated with greater interest and effort directed toward forming new social ties. Positive social ties were related to greater success (due, in part, to their support provision) and, unexpectedly, were also related to greater interest and effort directed toward forming new ties. Older adults sometimes seek to expand, rather than contract, their social ties, and characteristics of their social networks appear to play a role in fueling and influencing the success of such efforts.

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Social Networks, Community Engagement, and Cognitive Impairment among Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra ◽

10.1159/000502090 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 330-337

Author(s):

Jinlei Li ◽

Zijuan Wang ◽

Zhiwei Lian ◽

Zhikai Zhu ◽

Yuanli Liu

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Social Network ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Community Engagement ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Community Activities

Aims: To examine the association of social networks and community engagement with cognitive impairment among community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Methods: From November 2017 to May 2018, we selected 1,115 elderly individuals from 3 Chinese communities (Beijing, Hefei, and Lanzhou) using a random-cluster sampling method, and recorded data on demographics, social network characteristics, community activities, and cognitive function. The odds ratios (ORs) of these associations were adjusted for potential confounders in logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 25.7% (n = 287). An adequate social network (OR 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.91) and enough social support from friends (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.29–0.62) were negatively associated with cognitive impairment. Family support was not significantly associated with cognitive impairment (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.34–1.21). Taking part in elderly group travel, communication with others using WeChat, and community activities such as Tai Chi and walking together were negatively associated with cognitive impairment. Conclusion: Social network characteristics and community engagement were found to be related to cognitive function among community-dwelling Chinese elderly adults.

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Odor Sensitivity Versus Odor Identification in Older US Adults: Associations With Cognition, Age, Gender, and Race

Chemical Senses ◽

10.1093/chemse/bjaa018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 321-330

Author(s):

Lucy Xu ◽

Jia Liu ◽

Kristen E Wroblewski ◽

Martha K McClintock ◽

Jayant M Pinto

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Life ◽

Odor Identification ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Gender And Race ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Cognitive Component ◽

Representative Study ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Odor Sensitivity

Abstract The ability to identify odors predicts morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. It varies by age, gender, and race and is used in the vast majority of survey and clinical literature. However, odor identification relies heavily on cognition. Other facets of olfaction, such as odor sensitivity, have a smaller cognitive component. Whether odor sensitivity also varies by these factors has not been definitively answered. We analyzed data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a nationally representative study of older US adults (n = 2081). Odor identification was measured using 5 validated odors presented with Sniffin’ Stick pens as was odor sensitivity in a 6-dilution n-butanol constant stimuli detection test. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression modeled relationships between olfaction and age, gender, race, cognition, education, socioeconomic status, social network characteristics, and physical and mental health. Odor sensitivity was worse in older adults (P < 0.01), without gender (P = 0.56) or race (P = 0.79) differences. Odor identification was also worse in older adults, particularly men (both P ≤ 0.01), without differences by race. Decreased cognitive function was associated with worse odor identification (P ≤ 0.01) but this relationship was weaker for odor sensitivity (P = 0.02) in analyses that adjusted for other covariates. Odor sensitivity was less strongly correlated with cognitive ability than odor identification, confirming that it may be a more specific measure of peripheral olfactory processing. Investigators interested in associations between olfaction and health should consider both odor sensitivity and identification when attempting to understand underlying neurosensory mechanisms.

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Social Networks among the Older Chinese Population in the USA: Findings from the PINE Study

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000455043 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 63 (3) ◽

pp. 238-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

XinQi Dong ◽

E-Shien Chang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Social Life ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Socioeconomic Characteristics ◽

The Social ◽

Study Results ◽

The Usa ◽

Older Chinese

Background: Social network research has become central to studies of health and aging. Its results may yield public health insights that are actionable and improve the quality of life of older adults. However, little is known about the social networks of older immigrant adults, whose social relationships often develop in the context of migration, compounded by cultural and linguistic barriers. Objectives: This report aims to describe the structure, composition, and emotional components of social networks in the Chinese aging population of the USA, and to explore ways in which their social networks may be critical to their health decision-making. Methods: Our data come from the PINE study, a population-based epidemiological study of community-dwelling older Chinese American adults, aged 60 years and above, in the greater Chicago area. We conducted individual interviews in participants' homes from 2011 until 2013. Based on sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, this study computed descriptive statistics and trend tests for the social network measures adapted from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project study. Results: The findings show that older Chinese adults have a relatively small social network in comparison with their counterparts from other ethnic and racial backgrounds. Only 29.6% of the participants could name 5 close network members, and 2.2% could name 0 members. Their network composition was more heavily kin oriented (95.0%). Relationships with network members differed according to the older adults' sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Subgroup variations included the likelihood of discussing health-related issues with network members. Conclusion: This study highlights the dynamic nature of social networks in later-life Chinese immigrants. For healthcare practitioners, developing cost-effective strategies that can mobilize social network support remains a critical undertaking in health intervention. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the causal impact of social networks on various domains of health.

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Social Network Characteristics Predict Loneliness in Older Adults

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000516226 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Hairin Kim ◽

Seyul Kwak ◽

Yoosik Youm ◽

Jeanyung Chey

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Life ◽

Subjective Experience ◽

Social Roles ◽

Late Life ◽

Critical Pathway ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Working Status

Introduction: Social isolation is detrimental to late-life health outcomes. Although objective social isolation is a major source of perceived loneliness, how different layers of social disconnection systematically constitute the subjective experience of loneliness remains unclear. Methods: This study focused on older adults who participated in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (KSHAP) (n = 1,724; mean age = 72.91 years) and examined how the proximal and distal characteristics of social networks predict loneliness using a hierarchical linear regression model. The study also investigated whether the major loss of social roles (marital and working status) influences perceived loneliness through the proximal and distal aspects of social networks by cross-sectional mediation analysis. Results: This study found that the proximal (subjective number of connections) and distal (brokerage and embeddedness) aspects of social networks additively explained the frequency of loneliness. Moreover, the loss of late-life social roles (marital and working status) was related to an increase in loneliness, where the distal characteristic of social networks mediated this relationship. Discussion/Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the proximal and the distal characteristic of social networks is a social determinant predicting loneliness in late life. Besides, the loss of bridging and cohesive position among community networks may be a critical pathway to psychosocial transition after marital and working status changes.

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Relocation and Network Turnover in Later Life: How Distance Moved and Functional Health Are Linked to a Changing Social Convoy

Research on Aging ◽

10.1177/0164027518774805 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 54-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Philip J. Badawy ◽

Markus H. Schafer ◽

Haosen Sun

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Life ◽

Late Life ◽

Later Life ◽

Network Size ◽

Functional Health ◽

Core Network ◽

Long Distance ◽

Core Networks ◽

The Social

Life-course transitions among older adults often produce a reshuffling of social network members. Moving is a common experience for U.S. seniors, but relatively little is known about how core networks change amid the relocation process. Drawing on longitudinal data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, the present study examines how late-life moving is associated with changes to network size and the loss and gain of particular network members. We find that when older adults undertake a long-distance move, they tend to add more family to their core network—yet this is moderated by their initial level of functional health. Long-distance moves are also associated with losing nonkin members from the core network. These empirical patterns are interpreted in light of developmental perspectives on late-life relocation, continuity theory, and the social convoy model.

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Personal networks and mortality in later life: racial and ethnic differences

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdaa135 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Adam R Roth

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Social Life ◽

Later Life ◽

Network Size ◽

Racial And Ethnic Differences ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

All Cause Mortality

ABSTRACT Background Social network characteristics are associated with health outcomes in later life, including mortality. Moreover, there are well-established mortality disparities across race and ethnicity. Although previous studies have documented these associations separately, limited research considers the two in tandem. The present study addressed how the associations between social network characteristics and mortality differ across race and ethnicity in later life. Methods Data were from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. At baseline, 3005 respondents were interviewed with regards to their health and social networks. Five years later, 430 respondents had died. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of all-cause mortality over the study period. Results Network size and kin composition were negatively associated with mortality, whereas density was positively associated with mortality. There was a stronger negative association between the kin composition and mortality for Hispanic respondents compared with white and black respondents. Conclusion The present study contributes to the large literature documenting the link between social networks and health by highlighting the importance of analyzing networks through a sociocultural lens.

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Multidimensional Social Network Types and Their Correlates in Older Americans

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab053 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Talha Ali ◽

Michael R Elliott ◽

Toni C Antonucci ◽

Belinda L Needham ◽

Jon Zelner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Well Being ◽

Medium Size ◽

Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Network Type

Abstract Background and Objectives Social support networks of older adults have been linked to their health and well-being; however, findings regarding the effects of specific network characteristics have been mixed. Additionally, due to demographic shifts increasing numbers of older adults live outside of traditional family structures. Previous studies have not systematically examined the resulting complexity and heterogeneity of older adults’ social networks. Our objectives were to examine this complexity and heterogeneity by developing a multidimensional typology of social networks that simultaneously considers multiple structural and functional network characteristics, and to examine differences in network type membership by sociodemographic characteristics, health characteristics, and birth cohort. Research Design and Methods Participants included 5,192 adults aged 57–85 years in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project at rounds 1 (2005–2006) and 3 (2015–2016). Data were collected on social relationships including network size, diversity, frequency of contact, and perceived support and strain in relationships. We used latent class analysis to derive the network typology and multinomial logistic regression to examine differences in network type membership by sociodemographic characteristics, health characteristics, and birth cohort. Results Older adults were classified into 5 distinct social network types: (i) large, with strain; (ii) large, without strain; (iii) small, diverse, low contact; (iv) small, restricted, high contact; and (v) medium size and support. Membership in these network types varied by age, gender, marital status, race/ethnicity, education, mental health, and birth cohort. Discussion and Implications Network typologies can elucidate the varied interpersonal environments of older adults and identify individuals who lack social connectedness on multiple network dimensions and are therefore at a higher risk of social isolation.

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Introduction

The Oxford Handbook of Social Networks ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190251765.013.1 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. xxii-13

Author(s):

Ryan Light ◽

James Moody

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Social Network Analysis ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Bibliometric Analysis ◽

Social Life ◽

New Directions ◽

Central Paradigm

This chapter provides an introduction to this volume on social networks. It argues that social network analysis is greater than a method or data, but serves as a central paradigm for understanding social life. The chapter offers evidence of the influence of social network analysis with a bibliometric analysis of research on social networks. This analysis underscores how pervasive network analysis has become and highlights key theoretical and methodological concerns. It also introduces the sections of the volume broadly structured around theory, methods, broad conceptualizations like culture and temporality, and disciplinary contributions. The chapter concludes by discussing several promising new directions in the field of social network analysis.

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The Oxford Handbook of Social Networks

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190251765.001.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Social Network Analysis ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Social Life ◽

Information Science ◽

Computational Social Science ◽

The Social ◽

Diverse Field ◽

The Rich

Social networks fundamentally shape our lives. Networks channel the ways that information, emotions, and diseases flow through populations. Networks reflect differences in power and status in settings ranging from small peer groups to international relations across the globe. Network tools even provide insights into the ways that concepts, ideas and other socially generated contents shape culture and meaning. As such, the rich and diverse field of social network analysis has emerged as a central tool across the social sciences. This Handbook provides an overview of the theory, methods, and substantive contributions of this field. The thirty-three chapters move through the basics of social network analysis aimed at those seeking an introduction to advanced and novel approaches to modeling social networks statistically. The Handbook includes chapters on data collection and visualization, theoretical innovations, links between networks and computational social science, and how social network analysis has contributed substantively across numerous fields. As networks are everywhere in social life, the field is inherently interdisciplinary and this Handbook includes contributions from leading scholars in sociology, archaeology, economics, statistics, and information science among others.

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