Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia; Centre for Ageing, Cognition and Wellbeing, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2021 Nov-Dec;97:104525. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104525. Epub 2021 Sep 11.
The size and type of older adults' social networks is associated with health, mental and social outcomes. Investigators within many disciplines are now measuring social networks, but it is not always clear what they are assessing, or which measures may best meet their objectives. To undertake a systematic review to identify (i) social network measures used for older adults, (ii) variety of social network dimensions and (iii) how measures have developed over time.
The MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched to identify social network instruments, followed by categorization of the domains into quantitative, qualitative and alter domains.
A total of 229 studies and 21 social network measures were included, with 11 quantitative dimensions (e.g., size, frequency), 5 qualitative dimensions (e.g., support satisfaction, emotional bond) and 7 alter members (e.g., family, neighbours) of social networks identified. Measures commonly clustered on quantifiable network size (n = 19), availability of supportive networks (n = 14) and presence of family ties (n = 21). The period between 1985 and 1995 produced the greatest number of newly developed social network measures (n = 10) with a stronger focus on qualitative features.
This review provides researchers with an organized summary of measures and dimensions for consideration when appraising social connections in older adults. This can enable better study design through providing information that makes explicit inevitable trade-offs between survey length, comprehensiveness of dimension coverage, and utilization of the measure for researchers. PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42016043089.
老年人社交网络的规模和类型与健康、心理和社会结果有关。许多学科的研究人员现在都在测量社交网络，但并不总是清楚他们在评估什么，或者哪些措施最能满足他们的目标。本研究旨在进行系统综述，以确定：（i）用于老年人的社交网络测量方法；（ii）社交网络维度的多样性；（iii）这些测量方法随时间的发展变化。
系统检索 MEDLINE、EMBASE、CINAHL、PsycInfo 和 Cochrane Library 数据库，以确定社交网络工具，然后将这些领域分类为定量、定性和替代领域。
共纳入 229 项研究和 21 种社交网络测量方法，确定了 11 个定量维度（例如，规模、频率）、5 个定性维度（例如，支持满意度、情感纽带）和 7 个替代成员（例如，家庭、邻居）。这些方法通常集中在可量化的网络规模（n=19）、支持性网络的可用性（n=14）和家庭关系的存在（n=21）上。1985 年至 1995 年期间产生了最多的新开发的社交网络测量方法（n=10），并且更加强调定性特征。
本综述为研究人员提供了用于评估老年人社交联系的测量方法和维度的系统总结。这可以通过提供明确说明调查长度、维度涵盖全面性和研究人员使用测量方法之间不可避免的权衡的信息，从而帮助更好地进行研究设计。PROSPERO 注册号：CRD42016043089。
