TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of social networks and social support on health among older Koreans at high risk of depression
AU - Jeon, Haesang
AU - Chung, Yeonseung
AU - Chung, Soondool
AU - Song, Ahyoung
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Background: Despite compelling evidence showing that social networks and social support are associated with depression, relatively little research is available on this topic for older Koreans at high risk of depression. This article aimed to examine the relationship among different types of social networks (family vs. friends), social support (instrumental vs. emotional), and perceived general health among older Koreans at high risk of depression. We would then test for possible differences in pathways between two age groups (60-74 years vs. 75 years and older). Methods: Using data from the 2008 Survey of Elderly Life and Welfare Need, age 60-74 years (n = 2,815) and age 75 years and older (n = 1,784) were analyzed separately. Path analyses were used to examine the relationships among social network, support, and health among Korean older adults at high risk of depression. Results: Findings highlighted the complex associations among social networks, social support, and perceived general health within old age. Moreover, this study called attention to the negative association between instrumental support from family networks and perceived general health among older Koreans aged 60-74 years at high risk of depression. Conclusions: The work discussed in this article would help inform the design of much needed and effective social intervention programs for the growing number of Korean older adults with depression.
AB - Background: Despite compelling evidence showing that social networks and social support are associated with depression, relatively little research is available on this topic for older Koreans at high risk of depression. This article aimed to examine the relationship among different types of social networks (family vs. friends), social support (instrumental vs. emotional), and perceived general health among older Koreans at high risk of depression. We would then test for possible differences in pathways between two age groups (60-74 years vs. 75 years and older). Methods: Using data from the 2008 Survey of Elderly Life and Welfare Need, age 60-74 years (n = 2,815) and age 75 years and older (n = 1,784) were analyzed separately. Path analyses were used to examine the relationships among social network, support, and health among Korean older adults at high risk of depression. Results: Findings highlighted the complex associations among social networks, social support, and perceived general health within old age. Moreover, this study called attention to the negative association between instrumental support from family networks and perceived general health among older Koreans aged 60-74 years at high risk of depression. Conclusions: The work discussed in this article would help inform the design of much needed and effective social intervention programs for the growing number of Korean older adults with depression.
KW - Depression
KW - Older Koreans
KW - Perceived health
KW - Social networks
KW - Social support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84993945340&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1891/1521-0987.17.2.70
DO - 10.1891/1521-0987.17.2.70
M3 - Article
C2 - 27298134
AN - SCOPUS:84993945340
SN - 1521-0987
VL - 17
SP - 70
EP - 80
JO - Care Management Journals
JF - Care Management Journals
IS - 2
ER -