Help or Hindrance? How Family and Friends Influence Chronic Illness Self-Management among Older Adults

Abstract

We contribute to knowledge about older adults with chronic illnesses by identifying positive and negative influences of family and friends on self-management. Thirteen focus groups were conducted in upstate New York with 84 African American and White men and women, 65 years old or older, with arthritis, diabetes, and/or heart disease. Specific positive and negative social network influences are discussed in the areas of disease management (medication management, dietary activities, physical activity, and health care appointments); decision-making about the illness; and psychosocial coping. Overall, we found many more positive than negative social network influences, and more negative influences from family members than from friends. We discuss differences between influences of family members versus friends, and point out a few suggestive differences by gender and race. We conclude with limitations of the study as well as implications for the design of self-management interventions involving family members and friends.