Social isolation of older adults in Eastern and Western societies: a social network perspective

• In Event: 30860 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 4. Social Networks, Isolation, and Aging

Abstract

This article investigates the mechanisms behind the puzzling between-country differences in social isolation by integrating individual and societal perspectives. Utilizing time-use data and social network analysis (SNA), we construct social network maps and employ multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) to examine the factors influencing social isolation. The social network maps indicate that older people particularly lack individuals to interact with, as most interact only with spouses and a limited number of others. In East Asian societies, despite the presence of closer family ties, older adults still face significant levels of social isolation. Our MSEM results reveal that wealth, health, education, and age are positively correlated with greater centrality within social networks for older adults across both Western and Eastern contexts. Additionally, societal factors such as welfare systems, cultural norms, and demographic structures significantly impact the social networks of older adults in different countries. This research challenges the universalist assumptions about social isolation metrics, highlighting how cultural and welfare differences shape social isolation and providing empirical evidence for improving the well-being of older adults.

Authors

• Yujia Hou, Hong Kong Univ of Science and Tech

• Jukcing Ho

• Muzhi Zhou, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)