Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 54, Issue 5 S245-S251, Copyright © 1999 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Variation in the impact of social network characteristics on physical functioning in elderly persons: MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging

JB Unger, G McAvay, ML Bruce, L Berkman and T Seeman
University of Southern California, USA.

OBJECTIVES: Social support and social networks have been shown to exert significant effects on health and functioning among elderly persons. Although theorists have speculated that the strength of these effects may differ as a function of sociodemographic characteristics and prior health status, few studies have directly tested the moderating effects of these variables. METHODS: Longitudinal data from the MacArthur Study of Successful Aging were used to examine the effects of structural and functional social support on changes in physical functioning over a 7- year period, measured by the Nagi scale, in a sample of initially high- functioning men and women aged 70 to 79 years. Multiple regression analyses were used to test the main effects of social support and social network variables, as well as their interactions with gender, income, and baseline physical performance. RESULTS: After controlling for potential confounding effects, respondents with more social ties showed less functional decline. The beneficial effects of social ties were stronger for respondents who were male or had lower levels of baseline physical performance. DISCUSSION: The effects of social support and social networks may vary according to the individual's gender and baseline physical capabilities. Studies of functional decline among elderly persons should not ignore this population variation in the effects of social networks.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. F. Terry, P. Sebastiani, S. L. Andersen, and T. T. Perls Disentangling the Roles of Disability and Morbidity in Survival to Exceptional Old Age Arch Intern Med, February 11, 2008; 168(3): 277 - 283. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Mavandadi, K. S. Rook, and J. T. Newsom Positive and Negative Social Exchanges and Disability in Later Life: An Investigation of Trajectories of Change J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2007; 62(6): S361 - S370. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Bayliss, J. L. Ellis, and J. F. Steiner Barriers to Self-Management and Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Seniors With Multimorbidities Ann. Fam. Med, September 1, 2007; 5(5): 395 - 402. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. V. Ostir, I. M. Berges, K. S. Markides, and K. J. Ottenbacher Hypertension in older adults and the role of positive emotions. Psychosom Med, September 1, 2006; 68(5): 727 - 733. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Jaffe, Z Eisenbach, Y. Neumark, and O Manor Does one's own and one's spouse's education affect overall and cause-specific mortality in the elderly? Int. J. Epidemiol., December 1, 2005; 34(6): 1409 - 1416. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Beland, M.-V. Zunzunegui, B. Alvarado, A. Otero, and T. del Ser Trajectories of Cognitive Decline and Social Relations J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2005; 60(6): P320 - P330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. J Kirk-Sanchez Factors Related to Activity Limitations in a Group of Cuban Americans Before and After Hip Fracture Physical Therapy, May 1, 2004; 84(5): 408 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Litwin The Association of Disability, Sociodemographic Background, and Social Network Type in Later Life J Aging Health, May 1, 2003; 15(2): 391 - 408. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M.-V. Zunzunegui, B. E. Alvarado, T. Del Ser, and A. Otero Social Networks, Social Integration, and Social Engagement Determine Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Spanish Older Adults J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2003; 58(2): S93 - 100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Jang, W. E. Haley, B. J. Small, and J. A. Mortimer The Role of Mastery and Social Resources in the Associations Between Disability and Depression in Later Life Gerontologist, December 1, 2002; 42(6): 807 - 813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. F. M. de Leon, J. M. Guralnik, and K. Bandeen-Roche Short-Term Change in Physical Function and Disability: The Women's Health and Aging Study J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2002; 57(6): S355 - 365. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Seeman and X. Chen Risk and Protective Factors for Physical Functioning in Older Adults With and Without Chronic Conditions: MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2002; 57(3): S135 - 144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. J. Karlin, P. A. Bell, and J. L. Noah Long-term consequences of the Alzheimer's caregiver role: A qualitative analysis American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, May 1, 2001; 16(3): 177 - 182. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. F. M. de Leon, D. T. Gold, T. A. Glass, L. Kaplan, and L. K. George Disability as a Function of Social Networks and Support in Elderly African Americans and Whites: The Duke EPESE 1986-1992 J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2001; 56(3): S179 - S190. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Lee and E. A. Frongillo Jr. Factors Associated With Food Insecurity Among U.S. Elderly Persons: Importance of Functional Impairments J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2001; 56(2): 94S - 99. [Abstract] [Full Text]