Windsor Tim D, Rioseco Pilar, Fiori Katherine L, Curtis Rachel G, Booth Heather
School of Psychology,Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences,Flinders University,GPO Box 2100 Adelaide,South Australia,5001,Australia.
Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies,Adelphi University,P.O. Box 701 Garden City,New York,11530-0701,USA.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2016 Jan;28(1):49-61. doi: 10.1017/S1041610215001143. Epub 2015 Jul 24.
Social relationships are multifaceted, and different social network components can operate via different processes to influence well-being. This study examined associations of social network structure and relationship quality (positive and negative social exchanges) with mental health in midlife and older adults. The focus was on both direct associations of network structure and relationship quality with mental health, and whether these social network attributes moderated the association of self-rated health (SRH) with mental health.
Analyses were based on survey data provided by 2001 (Mean age = 65, SD = 8.07) midlife and older adults. We used Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to classify participants into network types based on network structure (partner status, network size, contact frequency, and activity engagement), and used continuous measures of positive and negative social exchanges to operationalize relationship quality. Regression analysis was used to test moderation.
LCA revealed network types generally consistent with those reported in previous studies. Participants in more diverse networks reported better mental health than those categorized into a restricted network type after adjustment for age, sex, education, and employment status. Analysis of moderation indicated that those with poorer SRH were less likely to report poorer mental health if they were classified into more diverse networks. A similar moderation effect was also evident for positive exchanges.
The findings suggest that both quantity and quality of social relationships can play a role in buffering against the negative implications of physical health decline for mental health.
社会关系是多方面的，不同的社会网络组成部分可以通过不同的过程来影响幸福感。本研究调查了社会网络结构和关系质量（积极和消极的社会交往）与中年及老年成年人心理健康之间的关联。重点在于网络结构和关系质量与心理健康的直接关联，以及这些社会网络属性是否调节了自评健康（SRH）与心理健康之间的关联。
分析基于2001名中年及老年成年人（平均年龄 = 65岁，标准差 = 8.07）提供的调查数据。我们使用潜在类别分析（LCA）根据网络结构（伴侣状况、网络规模、联系频率和活动参与度）将参与者分类为网络类型，并使用积极和消极社会交往的连续测量指标来衡量关系质量。采用回归分析来检验调节作用。
LCA揭示的网络类型与先前研究报告的大致一致。在对年龄、性别、教育程度和就业状况进行调整后，处于更多样化网络中的参与者报告的心理健康状况比被归类为受限网络类型的参与者更好。调节分析表明，自评健康较差的人如果被归类为更多样化的网络，则报告较差心理健康状况的可能性较小。积极交往也有类似的调节作用。
研究结果表明，社会关系的数量和质量都可以在缓冲身体健康下降对心理健康的负面影响方面发挥作用。
