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Direct and Indirect Pathways From Social Support to Health?

Author

Listed:
  • Seoyoun Kim
  • Patricia A Thomas
  • Deborah CarrPhDDecision Editor

Abstract

ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate potential direct and indirect pathways linking social support and health, while considering mental health and chronic inflammation as inter-related outcomes. The study also contributes to the literature through testing potential bidirectional relationships between social support, mental health, and chronic inflammation.MethodsThis study uses Structural Equation Modeling and two waves of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), including 1,124 community-living older adults aged 57–85 years at Wave 1 (2005).ResultsAnalyses show that social support influenced mental health indirectly through better self-esteem. Moreover, social support was associated with lower levels of chronic inflammation but chronic inflammation did not influence social support.DiscussionThe growing number of older adults with an aging population urgently calls for a greater understanding of factors influencing their physical and mental health. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of social support in older adults’ health, while specifically focusing on understudied indirect pathways from social support to health.

Suggested Citation

  • Seoyoun Kim & Patricia A Thomas & Deborah CarrPhDDecision Editor, 2019. "Direct and Indirect Pathways From Social Support to Health?," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 74(6), pages 1072-1080.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:74:y:2019:i:6:p:1072-1080.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbx084
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