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Taking Charge: Social Support Dynamics among Older Adults and Their Significant Others in COVID-19 Vaccination and Mitigation Efforts

Author

Listed:
  • Mark Brennan-Ing

    (Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10035, USA)

  • Yiyi Wu

    (Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10035, USA)

  • Jasmine A. Manalel

    (Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10035, USA)

  • Ruth Finkelstein

    (Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10035, USA)

Abstract

Older people have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are often portrayed as passive victims of this global health crisis. However, older adults do take responsibility for their own health and that of others in large part through social network dynamics. The purpose of this study was to understand the processes whereby older adults’ social networks shape their own health behaviors, and vice versa, in the context of COVID-19 vaccination and other mitigation efforts. Qualitative data from 77 older adults between ages 65 and 94 obtained through focus groups or individual interview participants were analyzed. Participant narratives demonstrated the reciprocal nature of social support and health behaviors and provided evidence that COVID-19-related health behaviors in this population were motivated by social support, altruism, and life experience. These findings emphasize older adults’ active role as health promoters in their families and communities, keeping themselves and their significant others safe from COVID infection. Implications for the role of older adults in community health promotion efforts are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Brennan-Ing & Yiyi Wu & Jasmine A. Manalel & Ruth Finkelstein, 2023. "Taking Charge: Social Support Dynamics among Older Adults and Their Significant Others in COVID-19 Vaccination and Mitigation Efforts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4869-:d:1093058
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rannveig Sigurvinsdottir & Ingibjorg E. Thorisdottir & Haukur Freyr Gylfason, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health: The Role of Locus on Control and Internet Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Kevin Bradley Wright & Rochelle Davidson Mhonde, 2022. "Faith-Based Community Members, Family, and COVID-19: The Role of Family Cohesion, Social Support, and Spiritual Support on Quality of Life, Depression, and COVID-19-Prevention Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Karen L Fingerman & Yee To Ng & Shiyang Zhang & Katherine Britt & Gianna Colera & Kira S Birditt & Susan T Charles & Deborah S Carr, 2021. "Living Alone During COVID-19: Social Contact and Emotional Well-being Among Older Adults [COVID-19 and the consequences of isolating the elderly]," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(3), pages 116-121.
    4. Heidi Igarashi & Maria L Kurth & Hye Soo Lee & Soyoung Choun & Dylan Lee & Carolyn M Aldwin, 2022. "Resilience in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Socioecological Approach," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(4), pages 64-69.
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