Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume 70, Issue 1, 2015, Pages 67-76

An empirical typology of social networks and its association with physical and mental health: A study with older Korean immigrants (Article)

Park N.S.* , Jang Y. , Lee B.S. , Ko J.E. , Haley W.E. , Chiriboga D.A.
  • a School of Social Work, University of South Florida, MHC 1400, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
  • b School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, United States
  • c Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, United States
  • d School of Aging Studies, United States
  • e School of Aging Studies, United States
  • f Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, United States

Abstract

Objectives. In the context of social convoy theory, the purposes of the study were (a) to identify an empirical typology of the social networks evident in older Korean immigrants and (b) to examine its association with self-rated health and depressive symptoms.For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected]. Method. The sample consisted of 1,092 community-dwelling older Korean immigrants in Florida and New York. Latent class analyses were conducted to identify the optimal social network typology based on 8 indicators of interpersonal relationships and activities. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine how the identified social network typology was associated with self-rating of health and depressive symptoms. Results. Results from the latent class analysis identified 6 clusters as being most optimal, and they were named diverse, unmarried/diverse, married/coresidence, family focused, unmarried/restricted, and restricted. Memberships in the clusters of diverse and married/coresidence were significantly associated with more favorable ratings of health and lower levels of depressive symptoms. Discussion. Notably, no distinct network solely composed of friends was identified in the present sample of older immigrants; this may reflect the disruptions in social convoys caused by immigration. The findings of this study promote our understanding of the unique patterns of social connectedness in older immigrants. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Convoy model Social networks Typology Korean older adults Mental health self-rated health

Index Keywords

depression mental health human health status Aged social support ethnology Florida cluster analysis United States Humans migrant psychology New York Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Aged, 80 and over Asian American very elderly Korea
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84922462672&doi=10.1093%2fgeronb%2fgbt065&partnerID=40&md5=47cdac917c65ba78cfeebd9a1569ecb8
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbt065
ISSN: 10795014
Cited by: 31
Original Language: English