The Association of Background and Network Type Among Older Americans

Abstract

This study examined the sociodemographic and health correlates of social network types among older Americans. It also considered whether greater human capital is associated with embeddedness in more socially endowed network types. Data from the first wave of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) were employed, focusing on the 65 years and older subsample. Multivariate logistic regressions were executed with core sociodemographic and health characteristics viewed in relation to five social network types: diverse, friend, congregant, family, and restricted networks. The analysis showed that religion, educational level, ethnicity, and gender were indeed associated with network type, to varying degrees. Age was unrelated to network type, but the interaction of disability and age was. Moreover, human capital was found to be partially correlated with social network type, mainly in the friend network. The findings substantiate that older Americans coalesce in varied social network types and that these interpersonal constellations are differentially associated with background characteristics.