The structure and functional correlates of social support networks of people in advanced old age living in chosen urban
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ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
The structure and functional correlates of social support networks of people in advanced old age living in chosen urban and rural areas in Poland: a cross‑sectional study Z. B. Wojszel1,2 · B. Politynska3 Accepted: 22 September 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract The purpose of the study was to identify the different types of social support networks (SSNs) among community-dwelling people aged 75+ years in selected areas of Poland, and to evaluate any associations between the network type and demographic and health variables of the population studied. The two most prevalent SSN types identified using the Practitioner Assessment of Network Type were “family dependent” (35.8%) and “locally integrated” (32.2%). “Local self-contained” (6.4%), “wider community focused” (2.8%) and “private restricted” (5.6%) SSNs were observed less frequently. In 17.2% of cases, it was not possible to identify the type of network unequivocally. Older people with a locally integrated SSN, in contrast to the family dependent type, were generally younger, living alone, and less likely to be homebound, rate their health as poor, suffer from depression or dementia, and had lower levels of functional disability. Locally integrated SSNs are recognized in the literature as being the most robust in terms of facilitating well-being and providing sufficient support to help maintain the older person in the community. This may reflect the higher levels of independence of older people able to sustain these support networks, which are then transformed into family-dependent types as their health deteriorates, but confirmation of this would require prospective studies. An improved understanding of the prevalence of different types of social networks among older people in Poland would help to guide a systematic approach to recognizing unmet needs in this population and provide crucial information in the planning of formal services. Keywords Social support network · Health correlates · Functional disability · Physical and mental abilities · Practitioner assessment of network type
Introduction Gerontologists have long been interested in the role of social networks in providing support for older adults, with a view to gaining a better understanding of the impact on Responsible editor: Marja J. Aartsen. * Z. B. Wojszel [email protected] B. Politynska [email protected] 1
Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Bialystok, Fabryczna str. 27, 15‑471 Bialystok, Poland
2
Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of the Ministry of Interior in Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
3
Department of Philosophy and Human Psychology, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna str. 37, Bialystok, Poland
their health and well-being (Berkman et al. 1992; Bosworth and Schaie 1997). Assessment of social networks and social support is recognized as an important component of a geriatric assessment protocol, since having a network that is able to provide instrumental and emotional social support, can affect the decisions made by the geriatric
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