Culture, economic development, social-network type, and mortality: Evidence from Chinese older adults. (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Ting; Yang, Yang Claire; Zhang, Yanlong
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 204(2018)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 30
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Social relationships -- Network type -- Culture -- Economic development -- Mortality -- China; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.03.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: This study examined the patterns of social-network types and their relative survival benefits among Chinese older adults. We examined how macro-level social factors such as cultural norms and unbalanced regional economic development shaped older people's network behaviors, and whether these factors could moderate the association between network types and mortality. Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2008–2014), we identified four network types—diverse, friend-focused, family-focused, and restricted—based on individuals' social network measures. Multinomial logistic analyses revealed that older people situated in an area with a deeply rooted family culture or a more advanced economy tend to be less likely to enroll in a diverse network than a family-focused one. This prevents them from achieving the best adaptive survival, as Cox regression analyses showed that the family-focused network type was less beneficial than the diverse one for the survival of older adults. Furthermore, while the survival advantage of the diverse-network type over the family-focused type did not change with cultural contexts, economic development attenuated the deleterious effects of the friend-focused network type. Highlights: Chinese older adults can be classified into four typical network types. Family-oriented culture prevents older adults from adopting a diversified network. Economic development affect older adults' enrollment into a diversified network. Culture does not modify the relationship between network type and survival. Economic factor mitigates the detrimental effects of friend networks on health.