Reciprocal relationship between social network characteristics and depressive symptoms among older adults in the United States: Differentiating between network structure and network function

• In Event: 3129 - Section on Medical Sociology Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 30. Social Relationships and Aging

Abstract

Social networks and social support can influence older adults’ depressive symptoms, but depressive symptoms can also influence network maintenance. This study investigates this dynamic, examining whether networks impact future depressive symptoms, and whether depressive symptoms matters for future network characteristics. Methods: Data are from Waves 1 (2005-2006) and 2 (2010-2011) of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a longitudinal study on health and social factors of older adults. Results: Using lagged dependent variable models, evidence of reciprocal associations between social support and depressive symptoms were found, as well as social support and the number of close ties and frequency of contact, placing social support in an important position between depressive symptoms and select network structure variables. No clear reciprocal associations between social network structure and depressive symptoms were found, although density was associated with later depressive symptoms, and depressive symptoms was associated with later number of close ties. Discussion: The relationship between network structure and depressive symptoms operates largely through social support. Network structure is meaningful in that it provides the source from which support is derived to influence depressive symptoms.

Author

• Bonnie Bui, Tulane University