Families and support networks among African American oldest-old

Financial strain and social support as moderators of the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms in older people

This study investigated the moderating effect of financial strain or social support on depressive symptoms among older people living alone in Taiwan. Data were collected from the "Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA)," which included 1513 participants aged 65 and over, among them, 153 (10.1%) were living alone, while 1360 (89.9%) were living with others. Measurement tools included the Depression scale (CES-D), financial stress scale, social support scale, ADL scale, IADL scale, and stress scale, with Cronbach's α coefficients were 0.85, 0.78, 0.67, 0.91, 0.90, and 0.70 respectively. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the moderator effect. The findings revealed that (1) Financial strain was found to moderate the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms, acting as a promotive moderator among older men living alone. For older women, financial stress does not moderate the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms. However, financial strain was also identified as a significant factor associated with depressive symptoms among older women living alone. (2) Social support does not moderate effect on the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms in older men or older women. These results underscore the importance of considering financial stress in mental health policy development by government agencies. It is imperative to address the unique challenges faced by older individuals living alone, particularly in relation to financial strain, in order to promote their mental well-being.

Social integration and risk of mortality among African-Americans: the Jackson heart study

OBJECTIVE

Evidence suggests that greater social integration is related to lower mortality rates. However, studies among African-Americans are limited. We examined whether higher social integration was associated with lower mortality in 5306 African-Americans from the Jackson Heart Study, who completed the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index in 2000-2004 and were followed until 2018.

METHODS

We estimated hazard ratios (HR) of mortality by categories of the Social Network Index (i.e., high social isolation, moderate social isolation [reference group], moderate social integration, high social integration) using Cox proportional hazard models. Covariates included baseline sociodemographics, depressive symptoms, health conditions, and health behaviors.

RESULTS

Compared with moderate isolation, moderate integration was associated with an 11% lower mortality rate (HR = 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77, 1.03), and high integration was associated with a 25% lower mortality rate (HR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.64, 0.87), controlling for sociodemographics and depressive symptoms; compared with moderate isolation, high isolation was related to a 34% higher mortality rate (HR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.00, 1.79). Further adjustment of potential mediators (health conditions and health behaviors) only slightly attenuated HRs (e.g., HRmoderate integration = 0.90, 95% CI 0.78, 1.05; HRhigh integration = 0.77, 95% CI 0.66, 0.89).

CONCLUSION

Social integration may be a psychosocial health asset with future work needed to identify biobehavioral processes underlying observed associations with mortality among African-Americans.

Understanding the value of social networks in life satisfaction of elderly people: a comparative study of 16 European countries using SHARE data

Background

Networks of family and friends are a source of support and are generally associated with higher life satisfaction values among older adults. On the other hand, older adults who are satisfied with their life may be more able to develop and maintain a wider social network. For this reason, the causal link between size and composition of the social networks and satisfaction with life is yet to be explored. This paper investigates the effect of the ‘size’, (number of family and friends, and network) and the ‘composition’ (the proportion of friends over total number of persons) of the social network on life satisfaction among older adults (50+). Moreover, we also investigate the patterns of this relation between different European countries.

Method

Data from the 4^th wave of Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and an instrumental variable approach are used to estimate the extent of the relation between life satisfaction and size and composition of social networks.

Results

Respondents in Western and Northern European (WNE) countries report larger networks than respondents in Eastern and Southern European (ESE) countries. However, the positive relationship between network size and life satisfaction is consistent across countries. On the other hand, the share of friends in the network appears to be generally negatively related to satisfaction with life, though results are not statistically significant for all countries.

Conclusions

Apparently, a larger personal network is important for older adults (50+) to be more satisfied with life. Our results suggest that this relation is particularly positive if the network is comprised of family members.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12877-016-0362-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Depression, Hopelessness, and Suicidal Ideation among the Elderly: A Comparison between Veterans and New Immigrants

The study attempts to compare between levels of depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among two groups of independent and relatively independent elderly in Israel: a) old immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU); and b) veteran persons who live in Israel since 1948 or earlier. The research assumption was that depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation will be found in higher levels among old immigrants compared to those veterans in Israel. Three hundred and seventy-six elderly immigrants and 392 veterans participated in the study. Findings show negatively significant differences regarding hopelessness, helplessness and depression among immigrants compared to those veterans. The conclusions of the study indicate the need for paying interdisciplinary attention to the mental health of elderly immigrants.

Design of a Case Management Approach to Enhance Cancer Screening Trial Retention Among Older African American Men

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to enhance retention among African American men enrolled in a cancer screening trial. Design and Methods:A telephonebased, randomized trial design was used. The intervention group included 352 African American men aged 55+. Case managers contacted participants at least monthly and provided information and referral services to participants and their relatives. Results:The mean age of participants was 65.7 years. A total of 14,978 calls were made resulting in 780 referrals. The 10 most frequent referrals were for scheduling medical appointments, health information, insurance information, legal aid, transportation, cancer screening information, information technology/computer information, employment, housekeeping/chore services, and food programs. Conclusions:The case managers served as links between participants and community-based resources. The types of referrals made could be associated with the age-related needs of the participants.

Cognition and Perceived Social Support Among Live-Alone Urban Elders

The relationship of cognition to perceived social support (PSS) was examined in a sample of 188 older medical patients who lived alone before admission to the hospital. Most of the patients were African American, and a majority (54.3%) was classified as cognitively impaired based on their performance on the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale. Compared with cognitively intact elders, impaired participants reported lower overall PSS as well as lower PSS in their relationships with friends and significant others. These findings suggest that cognitive functioning is an important factor in influencing older, medically ill African Americans'perceived social support. Possible risk factors for low PSS and the role of cognition in friendship and maintenance of a social support network are discussed.

Do Social Networks Improve Chinese Adults' Subjective Well-being?

This paper studies relationships between social networks, health and subjective well-being (SWB) using nationally representative data of the Chinese Population-the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Our data contain SWB indicators in two widely used variants-happiness and life-satisfaction. Social network variables used include kinship relationships measured by marital status, family size, and having a genealogy; ties with friends/relatives/neighbors measured by holiday visitation, frequency of contacts, and whether and value gifts given and received; total number and time spent in social activities, and engagement in organizations including the communist party, religious groups, and other types. We find that giving and receiving gifts has a larger impact on SWB than either just giving or receiving them. Similarly the number of friends is more important than number of relatives, and marriage is associated with higher levels of SWB. Time spent in social activities and varieties of activities both matter for SWB but varieties matter more. Participation in organizations is associated with higher SWB across such diverse groups as being a member of the communist party or a religious organization. China represents an interesting test since it is simultaneously a traditional society with long-established norms about appropriate social networks and a rapidly changing society due to substantial economic and demographic changes. We find that it is better to both give and receive, to engage in more types of social activities, and that participation in groups all improve well-being of Chinese people.

Social networks and subjective wellbeing among older Europeans: does age make a difference?

This inquiry examined whether social networks are associated with wellbeing among older-old people in the same way that they are among younger-old persons. The study focused on family respondents, aged 60 and older, from the second wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (N=14,728). The statistical analysis regressed two wellbeing measures (the CASP quality of life scale and life satisfaction) on a range of social network variables from three domains: family structure and interaction, social exchange and social engagement. In addition, the inquiry viewed these associations through the lens of age-based interaction terms, controlling for background characteristics, health status and region. The analysis revealed that the associations between subjective wellbeing and social network vary according to age. Among younger-old respondents, aged 60–79, more significant associations were found between social network variables and wellbeing outcomes in comparison to older-old respondents, aged 80 or older. Differences between age groups also emerged with the direction of the associations between social network variables and subjective wellbeing. The study results reveal that social networks do matter in very old age, but not in the same way as among younger-old persons. This finding is one indication of the differences that may emerge between third-age adults and those approaching the fourth age.

Meaning of bereavement among older African American widows

In spite of the increase in research on spousal bereavement, researchers have not specifically addressed the impact that ethnicity may have on the bereavement experience. The results of this descriptive phenomenological study increase the understanding of spousal bereavement among older African American widows. Storytelling was at the heart of every participant's description of her bereavement experience. Six themes were identified: awareness of death, care giving, getting through, moving on, changing feelings, and financial security. For nurses to effectively intervene in the lives of bereaved older African American widows, they must consider each widow's culture, heritage, and lived experiences, which can be ascertained through eliciting and listening to the widow's life stories.

Caring too much? Cultural lag in African Americans' perceptions of filial responsibilities

This paper explores African Americans' ideas about filial obligations. The findings are based on focus groups with eight different age-homogeneous groups. Although all age groups expressed strong commitment to filial obligations, they differed in their ability to recognize and accept constraints on family care. This variation was clearly related to cohort differences and participants' own experiences as caregivers or care receivers. Viewing our data through the lens of Clark and Anderson's (1965) adaptation model that distinguishes between adaptation, which is always positive, and adjustment, which may be negative, we found that younger cohorts' unbending idealism may lead to maladaptive behaviors should they be called upon suddenly and without preparation to assume the role of primary caregivers.

Suicidal Ideation and Depression among Institutionalized Elderly: The Influence of Residency Duration

An exploratory study of eighty-three randomly selected elderly persons relocated to a nursing home was conducted in the north of Israel. The aim was to examine the relationship between duration of residency and suicidal ideation. Elderly people in four different periods of residency were compared on three scales: the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Scale for Suicide Ideation. Participants at all four stages of relocation expressed high levels of suicidality, particularly those in their first seven months of residency. In addition, residents at different stages of adaptation to relocation at the nursing home expressed different levels of depression, suicidality, and hopelessness. It is suggested that special attention be paid to residents' subjective mental and emotional states, especially during the first period of relocation.

Age-related patterns in social networks among European Americans and African Americans: implications for socioemotional selectivity across the life span

Socioemotional selectivity theory contends that as people become increasingly aware of limitations on future time, they are increasingly motivated to be more selective in their choice of social partners, favoring emotionally meaningful relationships over peripheral ones. The theory hypothesizes that because age is negatively associated with time left in life, the social networks of older people contain fewer peripheral social partners than those of their younger counterparts. This study tested the hypothesis among African Americans and European Americans, two ethnic groups whose social structural resources differ. Findings confirm the hypothesis. Across a wide age range (18 to 94 years old) and among both ethnic groups, older people report as many emotionally close social partners but fewer peripheral social partners in their networks as compared to their younger counterparts. Moreover, a greater percentage of very close social partners in social networks is related to lower levels of happiness among the young age group, but not among the older age groups. Implications of findings for adaptive social functioning across the life span are discussed.

Older women's organization of friendship support networks: an African American-white American comparison

Research of friendship in older people's lives has recently extended to examine the impact of social structural factors. This study compared the friendship support networks of a small sample of older African and White American women for influences of ethnicity. The comparison used a matched-pair sample which controlled for age, marital status, residence type, and disability. Examination of data from the women's diagrams and descriptions of current informal support networks and friendship life histories indicates ethnic differences in four related areas of friendship network organization: size, composition, recruitment strategies, and opportunities for support exchanges. Implications for research and practice are considered.