Social relationship influence on self-care and health among older people living with long term conditions: A mixed-methods study.

Abstract

Social relationships influence health, yet less is known on how social relationships influence self-care among older people living with multiple long-term conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine how social networks influence therapeutic self-care behaviours and health among community dwelling older people living with multiple long-term conditions. Explanatory sequential mixed-methods. Community dwelling older people living in the Northeast United States. A cross-sectional sample of eighty-nine people aged sixty-five and older participated in telephone surveys. A nested sample of twelve participants completed a follow-up open-ended interview. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations and regression statistics were used to examine the associations between social network features and functions with the dependent variables of therapeutic self-care behaviours and health. Qualities that emphasised the contexts of the relationships were integrated in the data analysis. The strength of the social network and level of social support influenced the outcomes of therapeutic self-care and mental health. Thematic analysis expanded this explanation of self-care in relation to social network size, psycho-social support, activation of support, interaction frequency and type. In supporting older people living with multiple long-term conditions, this nursing research offers new ways to understand close social relationships influence on self-care in developing systems of care at the community level. Designing care systems that include small trusted formal and informal caregivers that integrate social network members could improve health outcomes and improve access to supportive resources.