[Social support, social stress and health of slightly disabled elderly persons].
The paper examines the influence of social networks on social support and social stress and analyses the impact of social support and stress on health. 171 (t1, 1992) and 135 (t2, 1993) persons aged 75 and older in need of a little help but still living on their own were personally interviewed in three districts of the city of Zurich. The results demonstrate that social networks are important for mobilizing social support and that these mobilizing processes are characterized by sex differences: The family (i.e. the partner) is much more important for men than for women who rely both on family and non-family social networks. There are only weak relationships between social networks and social stress. Social support affects health positively by indirect mechanisms. From t1 to t2 social networks, social support and health remain rather constant while social stress changes substantially.
Suter
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C
ETH Zürich.
Meyer
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PC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D013557:Switzerland