Social Risk Factors: Impact on Elders' Perceived Health Status

Abstract

Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 379 community-based elders to determine the relationship of income, education, and social isolation (objective and subjective) to perceived health status. Significant associations were found between the size of the elder's social network, health status, and perceived loneliness. The elder's friends, relatives (excluding offspring), and church activities were the most significant of the social network components in predicting health status. Finally, a path model was developed that illustrated the direct and indirect effects of social risk factors on elders' perceived health status. This study represents a beginning effort to empirically justify specific interventions directed at reducing elders' social risk factors.