IMPACT OF SOCIAL RESOURCES ON BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASURES OF PHYSICAL HEALTH IN OLDER AFRICAN AMERICANS

Abstract

This purpose of this study was to examine the impact of social resources on the biological and psychological metrics of physical health in a sample of older African Americans in their 50s, 60s, and 80s. Using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a longitudinal, population-based study. Participants in this study included 375 African American older adults who were interviewed about their health and social factors. The number of individuals within older African Americans social networks predicted the number of activities of daily living. The quality of social networks predicted the self-rated health. Cohort differences were present on social network count and quality. Social resources were not found to be associated with body mass index and biometric data that were predictors of heart disease and diabetes. Although social resources have been shown to have a substantial influence on self-rated health outcomes, for older African-American older adults the benefits nor risks seem to be present on biological health outcomes. These findings can be used to more readily identify factors beyond psychosocial variables that may impact the biological factors associated with aging within older African American individuals. Program interventions can specifically target adults to aid them in developing individual behavioral skills and/or resources that will assist them with the biological transitions that older African-Americans may face.