J Korean Acad Nurs.  2010 Feb;40(1):88-98. 10.4040/jkan.2010.40.1.88.

Correlation of Social Network Types on Health Status of Korean Elders

• Cheon EY

• KMID: 1125568
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.1.88

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the social network types of elders and to identify differences among latent classes by social network.
METHODS
The data of 312 elders used in this study were collected from health, welfare, and other facilities and from elders living in the community. The interviews were conducted from July 16 to September 30, 2007 using a standard, structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, one way ANOVA with the SPSS 15.0 program and latent class analysis using Maximum Likelihood Latent Structure Analysis (MLLSA) program were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
Using latent class analysis, social network types among older adults were identified as diverse for 58.0% of the sample, as family for 34.0%, and as isolated for 8.0%. The health status of respondents differed significantly by network type. Elders in diverse networks had significantly higher health status and elders in isolated networks had significantly lower physical health status on average than those in all other networks.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that these network types have important practical implications for health status of elders. Social service programs should focus on different groups based on social network type and promote social support and social integration.

Keyword

Social network; Aged; Health status; Typology

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Aged
*Community Networks
Family Relations
Female
Geriatric Assessment
*Health Status
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Questionnaires
Republic of Korea
Social Support

Figure

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  Figure 1 Characteristics of social network type.

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