Social networks and use of social supports of minority elders in East Harlem

Elder Abuse in the African Diaspora: A Review

BACKGROUND

As with many other populations, abuse of older adults is a growing problem across the Africa Diaspora. Modernization and urbanization are eroding the traditional values of respect for older adults. Also, older adults living in environments with limited social and economic resources, and having no means of economic support create a recipe for elder abuse and neglect.

METHODS

This article reviews the current literature on the epidemiology, risk factors, and interventions used for elder abuse across the African Diaspora.

RESULTS

Reports of elder abuse range from 24.9% to 81.1% across the Diaspora. Risk factors include cognitive and physical impairment, social isolation, lack of resources and widowhood.

CONCLUSION

Community-based programs using the unique social networks of older populations of African descent can provide a venue to improve caregiver training and support, reinforce traditional filial and informal caregiving practices, increase the utilization of available governmental and institutional.

Social networks, social capital and chronic illness self-management: a realist review

BACKGROUND

Existing literature on the design of interventions and health policy about self-management have tended to focus on individual-centred definitions of self-care and there is growing recognition of the need to extend consideration beyond individual factors, which determine self-care, to examine wider influences such as the health service, the family and the wider social context.

AIMS

To explore the theoretical and empirical links between social networks, social capital and the self-care practices associated with chronic illness work and management in the context of people's everyday lives.

METHOD

A realist review method was used to search and appraise relevant quantitative and qualitative literature.

FINDINGS

The review findings indicate that social networks play an important part in the management of long-term conditions. We found that social networks tend to be defined narrowly and are primarily used as a way of acknowledging the significance of context. There is insufficient discussion in the literature of the specific types of networks that support or undermine self-care as well as an understanding of the processes involved. This necessitates shifting the emphasis of self-care towards community and network-centred approaches, which may also prove more appropriate for engaging people in socially and economically deprived contexts.

The relationship between income and food insecurity among Oregon residents: does social support matter?

Objective

Millions of US households experienced food insecurity in 2005. Research indicates that low wages and little social support contribute to food insecurity. The present study aimed to examine whether social support moderates the relationship between income and food insecurity.

Design

Using a mail survey, we collected data on social support sources (social network, intimate partner and community) and social support functions from a social network (instrumental, informational and emotional). We used hierarchical logistic regression to examine the potential moderation of various measures of social support on the relationship between income and food insecurity, adjusting for potential confounding variables.

Setting

Oregon, USA.

Subjects

A stratified random sample of Oregonians aged 18–64 years (n 343).

Results

We found no evidence of an association between social support and food insecurity, nor any evidence that social support acts as a moderator between income and food insecurity, regardless of the measure of social support used.

Conclusions

Although previous research suggested that social support could offset the negative impact of low income on food security, our study did not find support for such an effect.

Making Meaningful Connections

Objective: The objectives of the study are: (a) to develop a profile of socially isolated older adults (SIOA) in British Columbia (BC) based on sociodemographic and health characteristics and (b) to examine whether SIOA under-or overutilize health care services. Method: This study uses telephone interview data collected from a random sample of 1,064 older adults (65+) in BC. The sample was identified using established criteria from the six-item Lubben Social Network Scale. Results: The results indicate that 17% of the sample is socially isolated. To summarize, the strongest predictors of social isolation are income, gender, marital status, self-rated health, length of residence, and home ownership. Further analysis indicates that SIOA were not more inclined to overuse health services. Discussion: The findings underscore the importance of understanding differential profiles of need and service use for SIOA within broader social contexts, and are discussed in terms of their implications for health care policy and program planning for this vulnerable population.

Disappearing acts: the social networks of formerly homeless individuals with co-occurring disorders

Studies of the social lives of men and women living with co-occurring disorders (substance abuse and serious mental illness) suggest that social networks critically influence recovery. In this paper, we examine some of the reasons that the social networks of individuals with co-occurring disorders are small, and the impact of small networks for this population. Using a social capital framework with cross-case analysis, we analyze 72 in-depth qualitative interviews with 39 formerly homeless mentally ill men and women who were substance abusers. All were participants in the New York Services Study (NYSS), a federally funded study of mentally ill adults in New York City. The patterns suggest that networks shrunk because (1) social network members died prematurely, (2) study participants withdrew or pushed others away, and (3) friends and family members faced so many obstacles of their own that they could not provide resources for the study participants. We suggest that as networks diminished, some participants responded by attempting to rebuild their networks, even if the networks provided negative social capital, and others isolated themselves socially to escape the pressures and disappointments of interaction.

Goodness of fit: social work education and practice in health care

This study addresses the fit between social work education and practice in health care. A random sample of NASW members identifying with health care (N = 179) responded to a mail survey about the utility of core knowledge and roles that we had identified by reviewing seven commonly used health care social work texts. Quantitative data revealed knowledge and roles most frequently used in health care settings as well as differences in roles used dependent upon department name; and different professionals supervising social workers. Qualitative data from four open-ended questions provided suggestions for what knowledge and skills should be taught in social work programs, the best forums/methods for teaching this content, and topics for continuing education. Findings are discussed in relation to six key areas of the peer-reviewed literature: vulnerable populations/diversity, ethical dilemmas, interdisciplinary collaboration, mental health, managed care/accountability, and advocacy. Implications for social work practice, education, and research are discussed.