Social support networks in Chinese older adults: health outcomes and health related behaviors: a path analysis

BACKGROUND: Population aging is a social and economic concern for China. It is essential to understand types of social support networks available to elderly people living in China. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to identify network types among Chinese older adults and to examine the differential relationship of the network types, health outcomes and health-related behaviors. METHODS: Secondary analysis of data compiled by the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (n = 9749) was extracted. Network types were derived through latent class analysis with Mplus 6.12 software. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, multiple logistic regression and path analysis. RESULTS: Four types of social networks were identified, these included private (16%), non-couple-focused (15%), couple-focused (47%) and diverse (22%). Compared with elders belonging to other networks, elders in diverse network possessed the healthiest status and the highest health-related behaviors score. Health-related behaviors played a role in mediating social network types to health outcomes was identified. Findings were aligned to the conceptual model pathway proposed by Berkman (2000). CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that types of social networks for elders are significantly correlated to health-related behaviors and health outcomes. Detail and understanding of the correlations are useful to inform healthcare practice and policy and to assist the development of appropriate interpersonal interventions.