TY - JOUR
T1 - Social network and health
T2 - A comparison of Chinese older adults in Shanghai and elderly immigrants in Boston
AU - Wu, Bei
AU - Guo, Man
AU - Chi, Iris
AU - Plassman, Brenda L.
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - The association between social network and health in older Chinese immigrants in the USA and their counterparts in China was examined using data from 177 Chinese immigrants in Boston, USA and 428 respondents in Shanghai, China. The results showed that Chinese immigrants had a significantly better self-rated health status but also that they reported a greater number of functional limitations. Although the level of the social network differed among respondents in Shanghai and in Boston, the impact of the social network on health status was similar for the two samples. The impact of the social network diminished when covariates such as health behaviors and health problems were added to the models. The conclusion, therefore, is that much of the association between a strong social network and better self-reported health in later life may be explained by other factors such as socio-economic status, health behaviors, health status, and access to health care.
AB - The association between social network and health in older Chinese immigrants in the USA and their counterparts in China was examined using data from 177 Chinese immigrants in Boston, USA and 428 respondents in Shanghai, China. The results showed that Chinese immigrants had a significantly better self-rated health status but also that they reported a greater number of functional limitations. Although the level of the social network differed among respondents in Shanghai and in Boston, the impact of the social network on health status was similar for the two samples. The impact of the social network diminished when covariates such as health behaviors and health problems were added to the models. The conclusion, therefore, is that much of the association between a strong social network and better self-reported health in later life may be explained by other factors such as socio-economic status, health behaviors, health status, and access to health care.
KW - Chinese older adults
KW - Health status
KW - Immigrants
KW - International comparison
KW - Social network
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2011.00820.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2011.00820.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:80052436305
SN - 1369-6866
VL - 20
SP - S59-S71
JO - International Journal of Social Welfare
JF - International Journal of Social Welfare
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -