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Reiner A, Steinhoff P. The association of social networks and depression in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review. Syst Rev 2024; 13:161. [PMID: 38902787 PMCID: PMC11188217 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-024-02581-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Depression is a globally prevalent mental condition, particularly among older adults. Previous research has identified that social networks have a buffering effect on depression. Existing systematic reviews have either limited their research to specific geographic areas or provided evidence from over a decade ago. The vast body of recent literature particularly from the last decade emphasizes the need for a comprehensive review. This systematic review aims to analyze the association of structural aspects of social networks and depression in older adults. METHODS The electronic databases APA PsycINFO, ProQuest, PSYINDEX, PubMed, Scopus, SocINDEX, and Web of Science were searched from date of data base inception until 11 July 2023. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported on community-dwelling older adults (defined as a mean age of at least 60 years old), had an acceptable definition for depression, referred to the term social network in the abstract, and were published in English. Quality was appraised using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Outcome data were extracted independently from each study and analyzed by direction of the relationship, social network domain and cross-sectional or longitudinal study design. RESULTS In total, 127 studies were included. The study categorizes structural network aspects into seven domains and finds that larger and more diverse networks, along with closer social ties, help mitigate depression. The literature on the relationships between depression and network density, homogeneity, and geographical proximity is scarce and inconclusive. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Despite inconsistent findings, this review highlights the importance of quantifying complex social relations of older adults. Limitations of this review include publication and language bias as well as the exclusion of qualitative research. Further research should use longitudinal approaches to further investigate the reciprocal relationship between social networks and depression. Following this review, interventions should promote the integration of older adults in larger and more diverse social settings. Other: This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Grant [454899704]. This systematic review was pre-registered. The review-protocol can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/6QDPK .
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Reiner
- Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Paula Steinhoff
- Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923, Cologne, Germany
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Schafer MH. Social contact during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of long-term connectedness and cumulative inequality in later life. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2024; 120:103007. [PMID: 38763541 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2024.103007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Though the COVID-19 crisis put many older adults at sudden risk of social isolation, the pandemic was far from the "great equalizer" some pundits and politicians initially claimed it would be. Drawing from Cumulative Inequality Theory, I consider how long-run patterns of social dis/connectedness contextualize key disparities in social contact that manifested during the pandemic. I incorporate data from four rounds of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (2005-2021), constructing multiple operationalizations of connectedness accumulation across pre-COVID years and examining several types of social contact during the pandemic, both in-person and remote. Results from ordered logistic regression show that those most durably connected were especially likely to incorporate digital tools for maintaining contact with family and friends. On the other hand, people experiencing more bouts of social disconnection were least likely to see friends during the pandemic, and were yet relatively tolerant of that level of engagement. Even while many older people's level of social dis/connectedness fluctuates over the course of 15 years, it was long-run accumulation patterns-not conditions observed most recently-that best explain their experience of social contact during the pandemic. Findings point to the role of crises in perpetuating and exacerbating key axes of inequality, and suggest points of attention and intervention in COVID's aftermath.
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Kennedy DP, Friedman EM, Kirkegaard A, Edgington S, Shih R. Perceived loss of support to community caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 52:475-497. [PMID: 38329412 PMCID: PMC10977083 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.23107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had a negative impact on the health and well-being of community caregivers. Few studies examine the pandemic's negative impact on the availability of social networks of caregivers. This article uses data collected during COVID-19 before vaccination to examine caregivers' reports of perceived lost and reduced network support. We assessed the personal networks of a nationally representative sample of 2214 community caregivers in the United States. We analyzed associations between caregiving factors and caregivers' perceptions of lost and reduced network support. Changes in care recipient living circumstances during COVID-19, longer-term caregiving, care recipient hearing/vision/mobility problems, caregiver travel/socializing restrictions, caregiver race/ethnicity, caregiver income, caregiver age, network connectivity, family relationships, and network members' age were associated with perceived lost/reduced support during the pandemic. Findings provide insights for the development of social network interventions to support caregivers and help them cultivate support networks resilient to public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P. Kennedy
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., M5S., Santa Monica, CA 90047-2138
| | - Esther M. Friedman
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, 426 Thompson St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
| | | | - Sarah Edgington
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., M5S., Santa Monica, CA 90047-2138
| | - Regina Shih
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., M5S., Santa Monica, CA 90047-2138
- Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA
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Perry BL, Smith NC, Coleman ME, Pescosolido BA. Social Networks, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Emerging Adults' Mental Health: Resiliency Through Social Bonding and Cohesion. Am J Public Health 2024; 114:S258-S267. [PMID: 37948054 PMCID: PMC10976447 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To assess how personal social network characteristics moderated mental health declines during the COVID-19 pandemic in emerging adults compared with other age groups. Methods. The Person to Person Health Interview Study, a representative, probability-based cohort study (n = 2485) in Indiana, collected data through face-to-face (baseline) and phone (follow-up) interviews before and during the pandemic. We used survey-weighted growth curve models to examine network effects on computer-adaptive testing measures of depression and anxiety severity. Results. Respondents reported significantly increased depression and anxiety in 2021, which returned almost to baseline levels for most age groups by 2022 (P < .001). Stronger ties to others and more interconnected ties were significantly associated with lower depression (B = -0.112 [P < .05]; B = -0.086 [P < .001]) and anxiety (B = -0.101 [P < .05]; B = -0.063 [P < .01]) severity across the pandemic. Interaction models revealed disproportionate protective effects of network characteristics on depression (B = -0.456 [P < .001]; B = -0.268 [P < .001]) and anxiety (B = -0.388 [P < .001]; B = -0.284 [P < .001]) for emerging adults. Conclusions. Cohesive and affectively strong personal networks promote resiliency to common mental health challenges during periods of crisis, particularly for emerging adults whose social roles and relationships were disrupted during a critical period of development. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S3):S258-S267. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307426).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brea L Perry
- Brea L. Perry and Bernice A. Pescosolido are with the Department of Sociology and the Irsay Institute for Sociomedical Sciences Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. Nicholas C. Smith and Max E. Coleman were with the Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, during preparation of the article
| | - Nicholas C Smith
- Brea L. Perry and Bernice A. Pescosolido are with the Department of Sociology and the Irsay Institute for Sociomedical Sciences Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. Nicholas C. Smith and Max E. Coleman were with the Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, during preparation of the article
| | - Max E Coleman
- Brea L. Perry and Bernice A. Pescosolido are with the Department of Sociology and the Irsay Institute for Sociomedical Sciences Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. Nicholas C. Smith and Max E. Coleman were with the Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, during preparation of the article
| | - Bernice A Pescosolido
- Brea L. Perry and Bernice A. Pescosolido are with the Department of Sociology and the Irsay Institute for Sociomedical Sciences Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. Nicholas C. Smith and Max E. Coleman were with the Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, during preparation of the article
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Smith NC. Residential segregation and Black-White differences in physical and mental health: Evidence of a health paradox? Soc Sci Med 2024; 340:116417. [PMID: 38007966 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Ample research finds that residential segregation is detrimental to Black Americans' physical health and exacerbates Black-White physical health disparities. However, less is known about how residential segregation may influence Black Americans' mental health and Black-White differences in mental health. Drawing on U.S. census data and a state representative study of Indiana residents (N = 2,685), I examine associations between residential segregation and multiple dimensions of physical and mental health. Consistent with past research, I find that residential segregation has an adverse association with physical health among Black respondents. In contrast, I find residential segregation to have a salubrious association with Black respondents' mental health, producing a Black mental health advantage at higher levels of segregation. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for research on residential segregation and health and the Black-White mental health paradox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Smith
- University of Maryland, Department of Sociology, 3141 Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Building, RM 3137, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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Kennedy DP, Bradbury TN, Karney BR. Typologies of duocentric networks among low-income newlywed couples. NETWORK SCIENCE (CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS) 2023; 11:632-656. [PMID: 38223900 PMCID: PMC10783164 DOI: 10.1017/nws.2023.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The social networks surrounding intimate couples provide them with bonding and bridging social capital and have been theorized to be associated with their well-being and relationship quality. These networks are multidimensional, featuring compositional (e.g., the proportion of family members vs. friends) and structural characteristics (e.g., density, degree of overlap between spouses' networks). Most previous studies of couple networks are based on partners' global ratings of their network characteristics or network data collected from one member of the dyad. This study presents the analysis of "duocentric networks" or the combined personal networks of both members of a couple, collected from 207 mixed-sex newlywed couples living in low-income neighborhoods of Harris County, TX. We conducted a pattern-centric analysis of compositional and structural features to identify distinct types of couple networks. We identified five qualitatively distinct network types (wife family-focused, husband family-focused, shared friends, wife friend-focused, and extremely disconnected). Couples' network types were associated with the quality of the relationships between couples and their network contacts (e.g., emotional support) but not with the quality of the couples' relationship with each other. We argue that duocentric networks provide appropriate data for measuring bonding and bridging capital in couple networks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Benjamin R. Karney
- RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Du X, Liao J, Ye Q, Wu H. Multidimensional Internet Use, Social Participation, and Depression Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Individuals: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e44514. [PMID: 37647119 PMCID: PMC10500359 DOI: 10.2196/44514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing evidence that the internet has beneficial effects on the mental health of middle-aged and older people (≥45 years), but the evidence is inconclusive, and the underlying mechanisms are less known. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the relationship between multidimensional (devices, frequency, and purpose) internet use and depression in middle-aged and elderly Chinese, as well as the mediating effect of social participation. Moreover, this study will explore the moderating effect of the regional informatization development level (RIDL) on the relationships between individual internet use, social participation, and depression. METHODS Data on 17,676 participants aged 45 years or older were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2018 data set. The 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) was used to identify the presence of depression. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between each dimension of internet use and depression. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the mediating effect of social participation and the moderating effect of the RIDL. RESULTS The results showed that 28.33% (5008/17,676) of the total population had depression. In terms of regional subgroups, respondents living in the western region exhibited the highest proportion of depression (2041/5884, 34.69%). Internet use was negatively associated with depression (odds ratio 0.613, 95% CI 0.542-0.692; P<.001). Various dimensions of internet use positively contributed to individual social participation and reduced individual depression (devices: β=-.170, 95% CI -0.209 to -0.127; frequency: β=-.065, 95% CI -0.081 to -0.047; and purpose: β=-.043, 95% CI -0.053 to -0.031). In addition, the RIDL weakened the relationship between individual-level internet use and social participation (internet use: F74.12,9.82=7.55, P<.001; devices: F51.65/9.88=5.23, P=.005; frequency: F66.74/10.08=6.62, P=.001; and purpose: F66.52/9.78=6.80, P=.001), and negatively moderated the relationship between the frequency of internet use and depression (frequency: F662.67/188.79=3.51, P=.03). CONCLUSIONS This study found that different dimensions of internet use are associated with lower levels of depression. Social participation partially mediates the association between multidimensional internet use and depression in the eastern, central, and western regions, respectively. Additionally, the RIDL helps individuals further their internet use and social participation, reducing the impact of depression. However, this effect weakens sequentially from the western region to the central region and then to the eastern region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiwang Du
- Taikang Tongji (Wuhan) Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiazhi Liao
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Ye
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Wu
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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The association between constant and new Internet use and depressive symptoms among older adults in China: The role of structural social capital. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Steijvers LCJ, Brinkhues S, Tilburg TGV, Hoebe CJPA, Stijnen MMN, Vries ND, Crutzen R, Dukers-Muijrers NHTM. Changes in structure and function of social networks of independently living middle-aged and older adults in diverse sociodemographic subgroups during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2253. [PMID: 36463147 PMCID: PMC9719122 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14500-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social networks, i.e., all social relationships that people have, contribute to well-being and health. Governmental measures against COVID-19 were explicitly aimed to decrease physical social contact. We evaluated ego-centric social network structure and function, and changes therein, among various sociodemographic subgroups before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Independently living Dutch adults aged 40 years and older participating in the SaNAE longitudinal cohort study filled in online questionnaires in 2019 and 2020. Changes in network size (network structure) and social supporters (network function) were assessed. Associations with risk for changes (versus stable) were assessed for sociodemographic subgroups (sex, age, educational level, and urbanization level) using multivariable regression analyses, adjusted for confounders. RESULTS Of 3,344 respondents 55% were men with a mean age of 65 years (age range 41-95 in 2020). In all assessed sociodemographic subgroups, decreases were observed in mean network size (total population: 11.4 to 9.8), the number of emotional supporters (7.2 to 6.1), and practical supporters (2.2 to 1.8), and an increase in the number of informational supporters (4.1 to 4.7). In all subgroups, the networks changed to being more family oriented. Some individuals increased their network size or number of supporters; they were more often women, higher-educated, or living in rural areas. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic impacted social networks of people aged 40 years and older, as they increased informational support and reduced the number of their social relationships, mainly in terms of emotional and practical supporters. Notably, some individuals did not show such unfavorable trends and managed to reorganize their networks to attribute social support roles more centrally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne CJ Steijvers
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Social Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands ,grid.491392.40000 0004 0466 1148Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases, and Environmental Health, Public Health Service South Limburg, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Stephanie Brinkhues
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Social Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands ,grid.491392.40000 0004 0466 1148Department of Knowledge and Innovation, Public Health Service South Limburg, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Theo G van Tilburg
- grid.12380.380000 0004 1754 9227Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christian JPA Hoebe
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Social Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands ,grid.491392.40000 0004 0466 1148Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases, and Environmental Health, Public Health Service South Limburg, Heerlen, the Netherlands ,grid.412966.e0000 0004 0480 1382Department of Medical Microbiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Mandy MN Stijnen
- grid.491392.40000 0004 0466 1148Department of Knowledge and Innovation, Public Health Service South Limburg, Heerlen, the Netherlands ,grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Nanne de Vries
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Rik Crutzen
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Nicole HTM Dukers-Muijrers
- grid.491392.40000 0004 0466 1148Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases, and Environmental Health, Public Health Service South Limburg, Heerlen, the Netherlands ,grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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