Gyasi Razak M, Phillips David R, Abass Kabila
Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
Centre for Social Policy and Social Change, Lingnan University, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2019 Jul;31(7):1047-1057. doi: 10.1017/S1041610218001539.
Social support networks for older persons have been related to health outcomes including differences in psychological wellbeing (PWB). However, the specifics of this relationship remain unclear especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates the (1) relationship between aspects of social support and PWB among older persons in Ghana and (2) the extent to which this relationship is moderated by their education levels and locational characteristics.
The study included 1,200 community-residing individuals aged 50 years and older who participated in an Aging, Health, Psychological Wellbeing and Health-seeking Behavior Study (AHPWHB) conducted between July 2016 and February 2017. Logistic regression models evaluated the associations of social support and their interactions with education and locational variables in PWB.
Several aspects of meaningful social support: family/friends contacts ( β = 0.958, p < 0.05), couple focused ( β = 0.887, p < 0.001), emotional bonds ( β = 0.658, p < 0.005), attending social events ( β = 0.519, p < 0.001) and remittances from children ( β = 0.394, p < 0.005) significantly related to improved PWB in later life. These associations remained robust and largely strengthened after accounting for respondents' background and health-related factors. Education and locational characteristics substantially influenced the associations between social support and PWB.
These findings suggest that especially in terms of PWB, aspects of meaningful social support networks are critical elements in later life. Strengthening opportunities for closer interpersonal relations with older persons may enhance their mental health, quality of life and independence.
老年人的社会支持网络与包括心理健康差异在内的健康结果相关。然而，这种关系的具体情况仍不清楚，尤其是在撒哈拉以南非洲地区。本研究调查了（1）加纳老年人社会支持各方面与心理健康之间的关系，以及（2）这种关系在多大程度上受到其教育水平和居住地点特征的调节。
该研究纳入了1200名年龄在50岁及以上的社区居民，他们参与了2016年7月至2017年2月期间开展的一项衰老、健康、心理健康及求医行为研究（AHPWHB）。逻辑回归模型评估了社会支持及其与教育和居住地点变量在心理健康方面的相互作用。
有意义的社会支持的几个方面：与家人/朋友的联系（β = 0.958，p < 0.05）、以夫妻为中心（β = 0.887，p < 0.001）、情感纽带（β = 0.658，p < 0.005）、参加社交活动（β = 0.519，p < 0.001）以及子女的汇款（β = 0.394，p < 0.005）与晚年心理健康状况的改善显著相关。在考虑了受访者的背景和健康相关因素后，这些关联依然稳健且在很大程度上得到了加强。教育和居住地点特征对社会支持与心理健康之间的关联有重大影响。
这些发现表明，尤其是在心理健康方面，有意义的社会支持网络的各个方面是晚年生活的关键要素。加强与老年人建立更密切人际关系的机会可能会改善他们的心理健康、生活质量和独立性。
