Family ties, physical health, and psychological well-being.
OBJECTIVE
This study assesses the impact of number and quality of family ties on the health and well-being of elderly people.


METHODS
Measures of the quantity and quality of family ties, adjusting for gender, education, and income, were correlated with the self-rating of health and well-being of a sample of 534 married parents between 68 and 73 years of age.


RESULTS
The quality of an individual's relationships with spouse, children, and other family members was associated with personal feelings of well-being, but the quantity of such associations had little impact on either physical or psychological health.


CONCLUSIONS
Researchers and those working with elderly people should not assume that the presence of family members necessarily implies that social support affecting physical health and well-being will be forthcoming.
Ryan
Andrea Kay
AK
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA.
Willits
Fern K
FK
D000368:Aged; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012944:Social Support