Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.40(1) > 1002681

Cheon: Correlation of Social Network Types on Health Status of Korean Elders

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the social network types of elders and to identify differences among latent classes by social network.

Methods

The data of 312 elders used in this study were collected from health, welfare, and other facilities and from elders living in the community. The interviews were conducted from July 16 to September 30, 2007 using a standard, structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, one way ANOVA with the SPSS 15.0 program and latent class analysis using Maximum Likelihood Latent Structure Analysis (MLLSA) program were used to analyze the data.

Results

Using latent class analysis, social network types among older adults were identified as diverse for 58.0% of the sample, as family for 34.0%, and as isolated for 8.0%. The health status of respondents differed significantly by network type. Elders in diverse networks had significantly higher health status and elders in isolated networks had significantly lower physical health status on average than those in all other networks.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that these network types have important practical implications for health status of elders. Social service programs should focus on different groups based on social network type and promote social support and social integration.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Characteristics of social network type.
jkan-40-88-g001
Table 1
Frequency of Social Network Variables for Latent Class Analysis (N=312)
jkan-40-88-i001
Table 2
Confirmatory Latent Class Analysis (N=312)
jkan-40-88-i002
Table 3
Characteristics of Social Network Type (N=312)
jkan-40-88-i003
Table 4
Difference of Health Status by Social Network Type (N=312)
jkan-40-88-i004

For multiple comparisons, no difference between same letter; a, b, c.

Table 5
Correlations between Social Network Type and Health Status (N=312)
jkan-40-88-i005

HS=Health status; PCS=Physical component summary; PF=Physical functioning; RP=Role-physical; BP=Bodily pain; GH=General health; MCS=Mental component summary; V=Vitality; SF=Social functioning; RE=Role-emotional; MH=Mental health.

Notes

This article is based on a part of the author's doctoral thesis from Yonsei University.

References

1. Adams RG, Blieszner R. Aging well with friends and family. The American Behavioral Scientist. 1995. 39:209–224.
2. Antonucci TC. Birren JE, editor. Social relations: An examination of social networks, social support, and sense of control. Handbook of the psychology of aging. 2001. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
3. Antonucci TC, Akiyama H. Social networks in adult life and a preliminary examination of the convoy model. Journal of Gerontology. 1987. 42:519–527.
4. Berkman LF, Kawachi I. Social epidemiology. 2000. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
5. Bott E. Family and social network. 1971. New York, NY: The Free Press.
6. Bowling A, Browne PD. Social networks, health, and emotional well-being among the oldest old in London. Journal of Gerontology. 1991. 46:20–32.
7. Bukov A, Maas I, Lampert T. Social participation in very old age: Cross-sectional and longitudinal findings from BASE. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. 2002. 57:510–517.
8. Chatters LM, Taylor RJ, Jackson JS. Size and composition of the informal helper networks of elderly blacks. Journal of Gerontology. 1985. 40:605–614.
9. Chung KH. The social networks of the elderly. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society. 1995. 15:52–68.
10. DePertuis LL, Aldwin CM, Bosse R. Does the source of support matter for different health outcomes? Findings fromthe normative aging study. Journal of Aging and Health. 2001. 13:494–510.
11. Dunkle RE, Roberts BL, Haug MR. The oldest old in everyday life: Self perception, coping with change, and stress. 2001. New York, NY: Springer.
12. Fiori KL, Antonucci TC, Cortina KS. Social network typologies and mental health among older adults. The Journal of Gerontology. 2006. 61:25–32.
13. Granovetter M. The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology. 1973. 78:1360–1380.
14. Hwang MY, Lee JS. Informal support network typology of the urban low-income elderlies. Korean Journal of Family Social Work. 1998. 2:169–193.
15. Kahn RL. Riley MW, editor. Aging and social support. Aging from birth to death: An interdisciplinary perspective. 1979. Boulder, CO: Westview.
16. Kim YH. Social network analysis. 2003. Seoul: Parkyoungsa.
17. Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. 2004 A study on living condition and welfare in elderly. 2005. Seoul: Author.
18. Krause N, Liang J, Keith V. Personality, social support, and psychological distress in later life. Psychology & Aging. 1990. 5:315–326.
19. Litwak E, Szelenyi I. Primary group structures and their functions: Kin, neighbors, and friends. American Sociological Review. 1969. 34:465–481.
20. Litwin H. Support network types and health service utilization. Research on Aging. 1997. 19:274–299.
21. Litwin H. Social network type and morale in old age. The Gerontologist. 2001. 41:516–524.
22. Litwin H, Landau R. Social network type and socialsupport among the old-old. Journal of Aging Studies. 2000. 14:213–228.
23. McCutcheon AL. Latent class analysis. 1987. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
24. Mitchell JC. Mitchell JC, editor. The concept and use of social networks. Social networks in urban situation: Analyses of personal relationships in Central African towns. 1969. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
25. Russell DW, Cutrona CE. Social support, stress, and depressive symptoms among the elderly: Test of a process model. Psychology & Aging. 1991. 6:190–201.
26. Sugisawa H, Shibata H, Hougham GW, Sugihara Y, Liang J. The impact of social ties on depressive symptoms in U S. and Japanese elderly. Journal of Social Issues. 2002. 58:785–804.
27. Takahashi K, Tamura J, Tokoro M. Patterns of social relationships and psychological well-being among the elderly. International Journal of Behavioral Development. 1997. 21:417–430.
28. van Tilburg T. Losing and gaining in old age: Changes in personal network size and social support in a four-year longitudinal study. Journal of Gerontology: Social Scienc. s. 1998. 53:313–323.
29. Ware JE Jr, Kosinski M, Bjorner JB, Turner-Bowker DM, Gandek B, Maruish ME. User's manual for the SF-36v2 health survey. 2007. 2nd ed. Lincoln, RI: QualityMetric Incorporated.
30. Wenger GC. Social networks and prediction of elderly people at risk. Aging & Mental Health. 1997. 1:311–320.
31. Won HJ. A study on the social network types of housewives in urban nuclear families. 1997. Seoul: Seoul National University;Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
32. Yee J, Kang SJ, Phang H, Lee MJ, Park KS, Eun KS, et al. Advanced Statistical Analysis Methods in Social Science. 2007. Seoul: Seoul National University Press.
33. Youm Y. Social network effects on breast cancer patients (Grant #5 P50CA106743). 2003. Chicago, IL: University of ILLinois at Chicago, Center for Population Health and Health Disparities.
TOOLS
Similar articles