Sense of mastery, social support, and health in elderly Canadians.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine the structural relationships among sense of mastery (SOM), income level, social support, physical health, and stress in older Canadians, while controlling for demographic characteristics.


METHODS
This research uses data collected in the National Population Health Survey on Canadians aged 65 years and older (N = 1,399).


RESULTS
Higher income predicts better health and more social support, which, in turn, predicts higher SOM. The relationship between physical health and stress is fully mediated through SOM for both genders. The SOM fully mediates the relationship between social support and stress for men and partially mediates this relationship for women.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings confirm the importance of a network of social services targeting older persons with low income, diminished physical health, and/or those living alone.
Gadalla
Tahany M
TM
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor St. W, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1A1. tahany.gadalla@utoronto.ca
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological