C. Mccamish-svensson et al., Social relationships and health as predictors of life satisfaction in advanced old age: Results from a Swedish longitudinal study, INT J AGING, 48(4), 1999, pp. 301-324
Citations number
45
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGING & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
This longitudinal study examines the relationship between family and friend
social support, health, and life satisfaction for a single cohort of eight
y-year-old persons living in Lund, Sweden. Results indicate that participan
ts who remained in the study are healthier and score higher on life satisfa
ction when compared with those who either drop-out or die prior to age eigh
ty-three. Even though well-integrated with family and friends, the number o
f friends decreases significantly from eighty to eighty-three years; those
who reported no close friends nearly doubled from eighty to eighty-three ye
ars. However, for those with close friends, contact with friends increases
with age. In contrast to previous research, a correlational analysis indica
tes that neither child nor friend support is related to life satisfaction a
t either eighty or eighty-three years. However, health measures and satisfa
ction with sibling contact are related to total life satisfaction at age ei
ghty-three only. These findings indicate the multidimensionality of both so
cial support and life satisfaction for the old-old.