GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL NETWORK SUPPORTAND MORTALITY - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF AN ELDERLY COHORT

Despite well-recognized gender differences in patterns df social netwo rk support, few studies have explored whether the pathways by which so cial support affects mortality risk differ for men and women. In a 15- year follow-up study of elderly HMO members, we found that network siz e affected men's mortality risk indirectly, through their health statu s. while no such indirect effect was found for women. The data also su ggested that network size had a direct protective effect on mortality risk for both men and women, with men gaining protection at a lower le vel of network size than women. These findings confirm the need for a gender-specific approach to further research on this subject, and sugg est the need to measure variables that capture the different meaning a nd value of social network participation for men and women.