scholarly journals Childlessness and social support in old age

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 25-50
Author(s):  
Lenka Křenková
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Support Provision ◽  
The Family ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
The Given

This structured literature review attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of literature on the topic of childlessness and social support in old age. In total, 33 articles that were published between January 2000 and July 2018 were reviewed. Articles to some extent covered topics of nonparents and their social support, social contacts, their social networks, and what are other socio-demographic factors that are possibly influencing these. There was no overall consensus on reviewed topics, but some findings emerged more frequently than others. Nonparents have smaller, but more diverse social networks, they seem to have less frequent social contacts with family, but they see friends and neighbours more often. Most articles depict childless as a vulnerable group with higher rates of loneliness. Childless elderly generally do not lack social support in forms of household help, yet their social networks appear to be less capable of providing intense care tasks. Among factors that also affect all above belong the cultural context, marital status, gender of the given individual, their age, and health status. Interestingly, within group of parents the family size, gender of children, and their proximity also play an important role in social support provision. This review also advices on a further study and development of the topic in the future.

scholarly journals The Social Environment’s Relationship With Frailty: Evidence From Existing Studies

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daan Duppen ◽  
Michaël C. J. Van der Elst ◽  
Sarah Dury ◽  
Deborah Lambotte ◽  
Liesbeth De Donder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family

Increasingly, policymakers assume that informal networks will provide care for frail older people. While the literature has mainly discussed the role of the family, broader social networks are also considered to be important. However, these social networks can diminish in later life. This systematic review investigates whether the social environment increases the risk of frailty or helps to prevent it. Findings from 15 original studies were classified using five different factors, which denoted five dimensions of the social environment: (a) social networks, (b) social support, (c) social participation, (d) subjective neighborhood experience, and (e) socioeconomic neighborhood characteristics. The discussion highlights that the social environment and frailty are indeed related, and how the neighborhood dimensions and social participation had more consistent results than social support and social networks. Conclusively, recommendations are formulated to contemplate all dimensions of the social environment for further research examining frailty and community care.

scholarly journals Difference between Sociodemographic Variables in Elderly Population Living in Care Homes and within Family Setup - A Comparative Study in Kota, Rajasthan

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (31) ◽  
pp. 2817-2821
Author(s):  
Swapnil Agrawal ◽  
Aftab Ahmed Khan
Keyword(s):  
Marital Status ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
The Family ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
Old Age Homes

BACKGROUND Due to various factors, elderly population is growing rapidly worldwide and also in India. Changing socio-economic patterns, such as women becoming economically active and participating in the workforce, and increasing mobility are all leading to more nuclear households, altering social norms of elder care in the family. Old age homes which were not common are now growing rapidly to fulfil needs of these needy elderly people. It is important to understand socio demographic factors of persons living in care homes. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare socio demographic variables between elderly people living in old age home and within the family setup. METHODS A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted at two old age homes and various local areas of Kota, Rajasthan. The sample comprised of 100 participants who were further divided into 50 participants from old age homes and 50 participants from family. A tool such as socio-demographic data sheet was administered to obtain the data. RESULTS Significant difference was found between these groups in age wise, regarding marital status (case - 66 % widow or widower, control - 82 % married), literacy (case - illiterate 52 % middle 30 % secondary or higher 18 % while in control these figures are 34 %, 18 %, 34 %) employment (case - 86 % unemployed while in control it is 30 %), family type (case - 36 % joint family, control - 80 % joint family), socio-economic status (case – lower - 72 % control - upper 84 %) having own house (case - 14 % control - 86 %) attitude of family members (case - attitude of their family members perceived as bad 50 %, normal - 11 %, good - 39 % while in control group these figures are 85, 18 %, 74 %). CONCLUSIONS Socio-demographic factors like marital status, employment status, housing and attitude of family members play a major role in elderly population for which they had to stay in care homes. KEYWORDS Old Age Homes, Socio-demographic Variables, India

Social Networks, Attachments and Support in Minor Affective Disorders: A Replication

1982 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Brugha ◽  
R. Conroy ◽  
N. Walsh ◽  
W. Delaney ◽  
J. O'Hanlon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Separate Analysis ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Personal Social Networks ◽  
State Examination

SummarySignificant deficiencies in personal social networks and social support in non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients have been reported by Henderson and his colleagues. In a replication study, 50 non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients were compared with 50 matched controls. Patients reported spending less time in social interaction, but more time in unpleasant interaction during the previous week; they also had fewer attachment figures, close relatives and good friends and fewer social contacts than controls. However, the separate analysis of Neurotic and Retarded depressives (using the Present State Examination) failed to replicate all these findings in the Retarded depressives. It is concluded that these associations are confirmed in neurotic patients, but that the more severe depressive disorders require further investigation.

Importance of Social Support in the Adjustment of Children with Learning Problems

1997 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melodie Wenz-Gross ◽  
Gary N. Siperstein
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
General Education ◽  
Social Supports ◽  
Learning Problems ◽  
Special Education Services ◽  
Education Services ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family

This study examined the social networks, social supports, friendships, and adjustment of 106 4th-, 5th- and 6th-grade children. Forty children were receiving special education services for learning problems, 66 were in general education. Results showed that children with and without learning problems did not differ on the size or composition of their social networks nor on the negative features of their friendships (conflict, competition). However, children with learning problems used their network differently for support. They turned to the family less for problem-solving support and to peers less for all types of support than children without learning problems. Results are discussed in terms of the implications for children with learning problems as they enter adolescence.

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