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Social isolation, support, and capital and nutritional risk in an older sample: ethnic and gender differences

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  • Locher, Julie L.
  • Ritchie, Christine S.
  • Roth, David L.
  • Baker, Patricia Sawyer
  • Bodner, Eric V.
  • Allman, Richard M.

Abstract

This study examines the relationships that exist between social isolation, support, and capital and nutritional risk in older black and white women and men. The paper reports on 1000 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older enrolled in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Study of Aging, a longitudinal observational study of mobility among older black and white participants in the USA. Black women were at greatest nutritional risk; and black women and men were the groups most likely to be socially isolated and to possess the least amounts of social support and social capital. For all ethnic-gender groups, greater restriction in independent life-space (an indicator of social isolation) was associated with increased nutritional risk. For black women and white men, not having adequate transportation (also an indicator of social isolation) was associated with increased nutritional risk. Additionally, for black and white women and white men, lower income was associated with increased nutritional risk. For white women only, the perception of a low level of social support was associated with increased nutritional risk. For black men, not being married (an indicator of social support) and not attending religious services regularly, restricting activities for fear of being attacked, and perceived discrimination (indicators of social capital) were associated with increased nutritional risk. Black females had the greatest risk of poor nutritional health, however more indicators of social isolation, support, and capital were associated with nutritional risk for black men. Additionally, the indicators of social support and capital adversely affecting nutritional risk for black men differed from those associated with nutritional risk in other ethnic-gender groups. This research has implications for nutritional policies directed towards older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Locher, Julie L. & Ritchie, Christine S. & Roth, David L. & Baker, Patricia Sawyer & Bodner, Eric V. & Allman, Richard M., 2005. "Social isolation, support, and capital and nutritional risk in an older sample: ethnic and gender differences," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(4), pages 747-761, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:60:y:2005:i:4:p:747-761
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    6. Trent A. Engbers & Michael F. Thompson & Timothy F. Slaper, 2017. "Theory and Measurement in Social Capital Research," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 537-558, June.
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    8. Corinna Trujillo Tanner & Jeremy Yorgason & Avalon White & Chresten Armstrong & Antonia Cash & Rebekah Case & Joshua R. Ehrlich, 2023. "Longitudinal Analysis of Social Isolation and Cognitive Functioning among Hispanic Older Adults with Sensory Impairments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-13, July.
    9. Andrea Sales S. De A. Melo, 2018. "The ?Bolsa-Família? Program And The Food Insecurity In Brazilian Household Between 2009 And 2013," Anais do XLIV Encontro Nacional de Economia [Proceedings of the 44th Brazilian Economics Meeting] 72, ANPEC - Associação Nacional dos Centros de Pós-Graduação em Economia [Brazilian Association of Graduate Programs in Economics].
    10. Sujarwoto & Gindo Tampubolon, 2011. "Child health and mothers’ social capital in Indonesia through crisis," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 14911, GDI, The University of Manchester.
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    12. Bukola G. Olutola & Olalekan A. Ayo-Yusuf, 2012. "Socio-Environmental Factors Associated with Self-Rated Oral Health in South Africa: A Multilevel Effects Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-19, October.
    13. Tsai, Alexander C. & Bangsberg, David R. & Emenyonu, Nneka & Senkungu, Jude K. & Martin, Jeffrey N. & Weiser, Sheri D., 2011. "The social context of food insecurity among persons living with HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(12), pages 1717-1724.
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