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Structural and functional social network attributes moderate the association of self-rated health with mental health in midlife and older adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2015

Tim D. Windsor ,
Pilar Rioseco ,
Katherine L. Fiori ,
Rachel G. Curtis  and
Heather Booth
Tim D. Windsor*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia
Pilar Rioseco
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute, Australian National University, 9 Fellows Rd Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Katherine L. Fiori
Affiliation:
Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, P.O. Box 701 Garden City, New York, 11530-0701, USA
Rachel G. Curtis
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia
Heather Booth
Affiliation:
Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute, Australian National University, 9 Fellows Rd Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Tim Windsor, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia. Phone: +61 8 8201 7588; Fax: +61 8 8201 3877. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

Social relationships are multifaceted, and different social network components can operate via different processes to influence well-being. This study examined associations of social network structure and relationship quality (positive and negative social exchanges) with mental health in midlife and older adults. The focus was on both direct associations of network structure and relationship quality with mental health, and whether these social network attributes moderated the association of self-rated health (SRH) with mental health.

Methods:

Analyses were based on survey data provided by 2001 (Mean age = 65, SD = 8.07) midlife and older adults. We used Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to classify participants into network types based on network structure (partner status, network size, contact frequency, and activity engagement), and used continuous measures of positive and negative social exchanges to operationalize relationship quality. Regression analysis was used to test moderation.

Results:

LCA revealed network types generally consistent with those reported in previous studies. Participants in more diverse networks reported better mental health than those categorized into a restricted network type after adjustment for age, sex, education, and employment status. Analysis of moderation indicated that those with poorer SRH were less likely to report poorer mental health if they were classified into more diverse networks. A similar moderation effect was also evident for positive exchanges.

Conclusions:

The findings suggest that both quantity and quality of social relationships can play a role in buffering against the negative implications of physical health decline for mental health.

Keywords

network typesmental healtholder adultspositive exchangesnegative exchanges
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 49 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2015 

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