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Beyond single indicators of social networks: A LISREL analysis of social ties among the elderly

Author

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  • Glass, Thomas A.
  • de Leon, Carlos F. Mendes
  • Seeman, Teresa E.
  • Berkman, Lisa F.

Abstract

While the health promoting influences of social networks have been shown in a number of studies, little attention has been paid to measurement issues within the field of epidemiology. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new set of measures of social networks for use in epidemiological research on the elderly. We use confirmatory factor analysis to test a multidimensional model of social networks using data from a large epidemiologic study of community-dwelling adults age 65 and over (U.S.A.). Confirmatory factor analysis conducted using LISREL showed that our model provides a good fit to the data after several adjustments for correlated measurement error were introduced. Based on this analysis, we developed new measures of four dimensions and a summary index of social networks. Bivariate relationships between our new measures and several sociodemographic variables of interest are also presented.

Suggested Citation

  • Glass, Thomas A. & de Leon, Carlos F. Mendes & Seeman, Teresa E. & Berkman, Lisa F., 1997. "Beyond single indicators of social networks: A LISREL analysis of social ties among the elderly," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 44(10), pages 1503-1517, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:44:y:1997:i:10:p:1503-1517
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    Cited by:

    1. Carole Roan Gresenz & Jeannette Rogowski & José J. Escarce, 2007. "Social Networks and Access to Health Care Among Mexican-Americans," NBER Working Papers 13460, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Angelique Chan & Prassanna Raman & Stefan Ma & Rahul Malhotra, 2015. "Loneliness and all-cause mortality in community-dwelling elderly Singaporeans," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(49), pages 1361-1382.
    3. Ellwardt, Lea & Van Tilburg, Theo G. & Aartsen, Marja J., 2015. "The mix matters: Complex personal networks relate to higher cognitive functioning in old age," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 107-115.
    4. Bennett, Rachel & Chepngeno-Langat, Gloria & Evandrou, Maria & Falkingham, Jane, 2015. "Resilience in the face of post-election violence in Kenya: The mediating role of social networks on wellbeing among older people in the Korogocho informal settlement, Nairobi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 159-167.

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