Relationship between social support networks and diabetes control and its impact on the quality of life in older community-dwelling Mexicans

A significant number of rural Chinese men are facing difficulties in finding a spouse and may fail to ever marry due to a relative scarcity of women in the adult population. Research has indicated that marriage squeeze is a stressful event which is harmful to men’s quality of life, and also weakens their social support networks. Using data collected in rural Chaohu city, Anhui, China, this study explores the effects of social support networks on quality of life of rural men who experience a marriage squeeze. The results indicate that the size of social contact networks is directly and positively associated with the quality of life of marriage-squeezed men, and moderate the negative effect of age on quality of life. Having no or limited instrumental support network and social contact network are double-edged swords, which have direct negative associations with the quality of life of marriage-squeezed men, and have moderate effects on the relationship between marriage squeeze and quality of life.

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DIGITAL INDEPENDENCE: HEALTH-RELATED DIFFICULTY IN INTERNET USE AND HOW IT AFFECTS OLDER ADULTS’ QUALITY OF LIFE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1661 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S442-S443

Author(s):

Shannon Ang ◽

Emily Lim ◽

Rahul Malhotra

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Internet Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Support Networks ◽

The Internet ◽

Social Support Networks ◽

Health Related

Abstract Using the internet is increasingly a necessity. However, older adults may not do so due to either non-health reasons (e.g., lack of digital literacy or internet access) or health-related reasons. While researchers have studied internet use among older adults, most do not discriminate whether non-use is due to health reasons or otherwise. Recent studies also reveal that older adults use the internet to keep in touch with family and friends, highlighting that limitations in internet use may be detrimental for their well-being. We therefore, examine the key correlates of health-related difficulty in internet use, and how it may affect quality of life by reducing the size of their social support networks. Data were from a national survey of older Singaporeans (n=3966) conducted in 2016-17. Multinomial logistic regression and mediation analysis were used to identify older adult subgroups more likely to experience health-related difficulty in internet use, and whether such difficulty affected older adults’ quality of life through their social support networks. Results showed that males, those of Malay ethnicity, those with less education, and those with more instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) limitations were more likely to experience health-related difficulty in internet use. Social support networks mediated the relationship between health-related difficulty in internet use and quality of life. These findings suggest that other than managing the health conditions of older adults who face health-related difficulty in internet use, offline modes of keeping them socially connected may promote their quality of life.

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Health-Related Difficulty in Internet Use Among Older Adults: Correlates and Mediation of Its Association With Quality of Life Through Social Support Networks

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa096 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shannon Ang ◽

Emily Lim ◽

Rahul Malhotra

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Digital Literacy ◽

Internet Use ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Support Networks ◽

Social Support Networks ◽

Health Related

Abstract Background and Objectives Internet use is increasingly a necessity. However, older adults may not use the internet due to either nonhealth reasons (e.g., lack of digital literacy or internet access) or health-related reasons (e.g., visual impairment or movement difficulties). While researchers have studied internet use among older adults, most do not discriminate whether nonuse is due to health-related reasons or otherwise. We therefore examine the key correlates of health-related difficulty in internet use among older adults, and how it may affect the quality of life (QoL) through their perceived social support networks. Research Design and Methods Data were from a national survey of older Singaporeans (N = 3,966) conducted in 2016–2017. Multinomial logistic regression and mediation analysis were used to identify older adult subgroups more likely to experience health-related difficulty in internet use, and whether such difficulty affected older adults’ QoL through their social support networks. Results Those of male gender, of Malay ethnicity, with less education, and with more instrumental activity of daily living limitations were more likely to experience health-related difficulty in internet use. Social support networks mediated the relationship between health-related difficulty in internet use and QoL. Discussion and Implications Disparities in internet use are not just shaped by access or skill, but also health. Health-related difficulties in internet use are related to older adults’ social support networks and quality of life. As social connections become increasingly based around networked individuals due to technological advancements, more attention should be given to addressing these health-related difficulties.

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Social support as a mediator between depression and quality of life in Chinese community-dwelling older adults with chronic disease

Geriatric Nursing ◽

10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.10.014 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 252-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ling-Na Kong ◽

Ping Hu ◽

Yu Yao ◽

Qing-Hua Zhao

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Chinese Community ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Quality of life and social support: Perspectives of Saudi Arabian stroke survivors

Science Progress ◽

10.1177/0036850420947603 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 103 (3) ◽

pp. 003685042094760

Author(s):

Abdulrahman M Alshahrani

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Employment Status ◽

Family Income ◽

Community Education ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Stroke Survivors ◽

Critical Knowledge ◽

Multivariate Multiple Regression

Given that stroke is an indispensable health burden in Saudi Arabia and around the world, great importance has been attached on studies of social support and other factors that could improve the quality of life of stroke survivors. Perceptions of quality of life and social support may vary depending on patients’ cultural and societal background. This research assessed the quality of life and social support of community-dwelling Saudis who survived stroke. A quantitative study was performed among 123 Saudi stroke survivors. Questionnaire-guided interviews measuring social support and quality of life were performed, and the multivariate effects of predictor variables on the four domains of quality of life were determined through multivariate multiple regression analysis. Among the dimensions of social support, support from family members had the highest average, whereas support from friends had the lowest. The environmental domain of quality of life was perceived to be the best aspect, whereas physical health was perceived to be the poorest. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, gender, employment status, monthly family income, type of community, education, type of stroke, side of stroke and support from significant others had multivariate influences on the domains of quality of life. Several sociodemographic and disease-related variables and social support influence patients’ quality of life. The study adds critical knowledge as to how Arab stroke survivors perceive their quality of life and social support. Ensuring that stroke survivors receive adequate social support is imperative because it can improve their quality of life.

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Relationship between Social Support Networks and Physical Functioning in Older Community-Dwelling Mexicans

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph14090993 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (9) ◽

pp. 993 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Víctor Mendoza-Núñez ◽

Fabiola González-Mantilla ◽

Elsa Correa-Muñoz ◽

Raquel Retana-Ugalde

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Support Networks ◽

Social Support Networks

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Mechanisms by Which Social Support Networks Influence Healthy Aging Among Thai Community-Dwelling Elderly

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264311418503 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (8) ◽

pp. 1352-1378 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Kattika Thanakwang ◽

Kusol Soonthorndhada

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Support Networks ◽

Social Support Networks

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The structure and functional correlates of social support networks of people in advanced old age living in chosen urban and rural areas in Poland: a cross-sectional study

European Journal of Ageing ◽

10.1007/s10433-020-00583-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Z. B. Wojszel ◽

B. Politynska

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older People ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Support Networks ◽

Social Support Networks ◽

Different Types ◽

Network Type

Abstract The purpose of the study was to identify the different types of social support networks (SSNs) among community-dwelling people aged 75+ years in selected areas of Poland, and to evaluate any associations between the network type and demographic and health variables of the population studied. The two most prevalent SSN types identified using the Practitioner Assessment of Network Type were “family dependent” (35.8%) and “locally integrated” (32.2%). “Local self-contained” (6.4%), “wider community focused” (2.8%) and “private restricted” (5.6%) SSNs were observed less frequently. In 17.2% of cases, it was not possible to identify the type of network unequivocally. Older people with a locally integrated SSN, in contrast to the family dependent type, were generally younger, living alone, and less likely to be homebound, rate their health as poor, suffer from depression or dementia, and had lower levels of functional disability. Locally integrated SSNs are recognized in the literature as being the most robust in terms of facilitating well-being and providing sufficient support to help maintain the older person in the community. This may reflect the higher levels of independence of older people able to sustain these support networks, which are then transformed into family-dependent types as their health deteriorates, but confirmation of this would require prospective studies. An improved understanding of the prevalence of different types of social networks among older people in Poland would help to guide a systematic approach to recognizing unmet needs in this population and provide crucial information in the planning of formal services.

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Predictors of quality of life among community psychiatric patients in a peri-urban district of Gauteng province, South Africa

South African Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v24i0.1289 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dumakazi Mapatwana ◽

Andrew Tomita ◽

Jonathan Burns ◽

Lesley Robertson

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

South Africa ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Gauteng Province ◽

Community Psychiatric

Introduction: Few studies on quality of life (QoL) in the mentally ill population of South Africa have been conducted, but none in community-dwelling individuals. This study examined the QoL of psychiatric patients at community mental health clinics in Gauteng province of South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional interview-based study was conducted on 121 adult patients attending community psychiatric clinics. To reduce the impact of acute psychiatric symptoms on subjective QoL, only clinically stable patients were included. Instruments used included the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF domains (i.e. physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) for severity of illness and a socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire.Results: Just under half of the sample rated their overall QoL as good or very good. The strongest predictor of a poor QoL in all four domains was residual psychiatric symptomatology. The most severe BPRS scores were for the symptoms of depression, anxiety and somatic concern. Perceived social support significantly predicted a better QoL in the psychological, social relationships and environmental domains.Conclusion: This study highlights the negative impact of residual psychiatric symptoms on subjective QoL, and the importance of social support and enhancing QoL. If better QoL is the goal of care, then our findings highlight the importance of managing residual symptoms and promoting social support.

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