Hps302 Assignment 1
1757 WordsChloe Perkins
214137748
HPS302
Assignment 1 – Literature Review
Deakin University
Social relationships can be defined as having a network of associates, maintaining contact with others, experiencing social support, and enjoying a resource of social capital (Cooper & Bebbington & Livingstone, 2011). Social relationships are a key element of happiness and wellbeing and have major effects on health over the life course (Antonucci & Ajrouch & Birditt, 2014). Happiness and wellbeing can be used in association with life satisfaction. The aim of this review was to explore the influence of social relationships on personal happiness and wellbeing of older adults. A review of the literature explores the impact social relationships have on an individual’s happiness, the impact that social participation has on happiness and wellbeing, as well as the negative effects associated with a lack of social relationships and social isolation. The socio-emotional selectivity theory relates to how older adults are focused on meaningful existing relationships, and are less focused on generating new relationships (Robertson & Hopko, 2013). This theory is incorporated into this review.
Evidence from various sources has shown how an individual’s happiness and wellbeing is influenced by social relationships. It has been found that elderly individuals usually maintain smaller social network connections compared with younger individuals, and that they traditionally rely on family members for support (Chang & Hsu, 2015). In the elderly, a lot of individuals are dealing will illness and functional limitations, and it is important for them to have strong relationships to help them cope with this (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). It has been found that strong bonds are based on communication, emotional intensity and mutual trust. These bonds are important sources of social support and are important when helping an individual when they are confronted with challenges. This in turn has an impact on an individual’s wellbeing (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). Literature finds that emotional support has been found to be a main factor relating to the happiness of an individual. Emotional support has been found to be higher correlated with happiness, when compared to instrumental care such as caregiving (Chang & Hsu, 2015). In elders it has been found that the quality of social interactions is more important than the quantity of relationships (Chang & Hsu, 2015). Literature finds they are more likely to prioritize emotionally meaningful relationships over acquaintances (Cartenson & Fung & Charles, 2003). This relates to the socio-emotional selectivity theory, as the theory states how older adults are more focused on being attentive to existing meaningful relationships, and are less focused on developing new relationships (Robertson & Hopko, 2013). This is found to be due to them having perceived limitations on time, and this directs their attention to meaningful relationships (Cartenson et al., 2003). Increased attention to goals such as meaningful relationships has been found to result in greater emotional experiences, as well as better regulation of emotions (Cartenson et al., 2003). It has also been found that older adults derive greater happiness from experiences with close social partners, when compared with others (Cartenson et al., 2003). In person interaction is perceived as being more supportive, and has been related to a lower probability of depressive symptoms (Teo & Choi & Andrea & Valenstein & Newsom & Dobscha & Zivin, 2015). A limitation of social relations on wellbeing include personal characteristics, as it has been found that factors including socioeconomic status, ethnicity and gender have variations on how social relations can vary. An example of this is because some ethnicities are more family based (Antonucci et al., 2014). Social relations can also be understood from different perspectives depending on the individual, and can be understood subjectively (Antonucci et al., 2014)
Social participation and engaging in the community has been found to have an impact on the happiness and wellbeing of older adults. Research has found that more elders are interested in social participation activities than in previous generations (Chang & Hsu, 2015). It has been found that happiness from social participation reduces with age, however it has still been correlated that those who do engage in social participation had a higher level of happiness than elders who do not (Chang & Hsu, 2015). It has been found that social participation has caused increases in personal dignity, connections with a social network, as well as feeling meaning in life (Chang & Hsu, 2015). This can be related to the socio-emotional selectivity theory, as the theory states that social and communicative behaviours are motivated by the attainment of rewards (Robertson & Hopko, 2013). Many elderly individuals have a lot of free time and invest their time in volunteer work or in religious participation (Shankar & Rafnsson & Steptoe, 2015). Having social relations and being connected with society can provide the elderly with benefits including access to information, transportation and financial loans. The availability of these resources can lead to better health outcomes for the individual, an example being stress being minimized (Cornwell & Waite, 2009). A limitation to this however, is that it has been found that having a social network does not always guarantee social support (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). Even though weak social bonds do not have the same emotional affect as strong bonds, weak bonds still help integrate the individual into society (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). It has been found that daily interactions with others in the community have the power to increase an individual’s wellbeing (Shankar et al., 2015). Research has suggested that if society increased opportunities for older people to engage in social activities, reduced age discrimination for older volunteers and workers, as well as encouraging community social connectivity activities, then happiness and wellbeing in the elderly would increase, and social isolation for these individuals could be minimized (Chang & Hsu, 2015).
Research suggests that a lack of social relationships can have a negative effect on an individual’s health and wellbeing. Research suggests that factors including living independently, having a small social network, lack of social support, and low participation in society, are all key factors that can lead to social isolation and negative effects on the individual (Cornwell & Waite, 2009). Older adults are at higher risk of isolation and loneliness due to the life changes that they are going through at their age including retirement and children moving away (Shankar et al., 2015). It has been found that individuals who lack social relationships report higher feelings of loneliness, and in turn this has found to cause a negative impact on an individual’s physical and mental health. In terms of mental health it is found that loneliness is a key predictor of depression in older adults (Cornwell & Waite, 2009). Research found that lack of social relationships can also impact physical health through infections and cognitive decline which consequently has lead to higher rates of morbidity and mortality (Cornwell & Waite, 2009). As an individual gets older they have to face stressful life transitions including disability, health problems and retirement (Cornwell & Waite, 2009). The decline in their health increases the level of dependence they place on others. As social relationships are limited in older adults, finding care and assistance can be difficult, and consequently has found to have a negative effect on life satisfaction (Bishop & Martin & Poon, 2006). Research has found that with whom a person has social contact with may affect the risk of depression. The socio-emotional selectivity theory states that older individuals focus on close established relationships (Shankar et al., 2015). However if these close relationships fail to meet their expectations and are unsatisfying, it can cause a high amount of distress in the individual as those relationships are what they were putting their main focus on (Shankar et al., 2015). This can lead to lower life satisfaction and lower happiness levels. Limitations have been found in this research as it has been found that levels of isolation and feelings of loneliness are likely to change over time in response to events such as participating in social events (Shankar et al., 2015). Health impairments have also been found to compromise positive assessments on wellbeing (Bishop et al., 2006). Also a limitation is that most studies are based on an individual’s depressive symptoms, not a clinical diagnosis of depression (Teo et al., 2015).
Literature has found that social relationships impact the happiness and wellbeing of an individual. It is found that social relationships have a major impact on an individual’s happiness and health and that social participation plays a role in happiness and wellbeing. Literature has also found many negative effects associated with a lack of social relationships including loneliness and social isolation. The aim of the current study is to understand the personal beliefs older adults have on the importance of social relationships on their wellbeing and happiness.
References:
Antonucci, T. C., Ajrouch, K. J., & Birditt, K. S. (2014). The Convoy Model: Explaining Social Relations From a Multidisciplinary Perspective. Gerontologist, 54(1), 82-92 11p.
Bishop, A. J., Martin, P., & Poon, L. (2006). Happiness and congruence in older adulthood: a structural model of life satisfaction. Aging & Mental Health, 10(5), 445-453.
Carstensen, L. L., Fung, H. H., & Charles, S. T. (2003). Socioemotional Selectivity Theory and the Regulation of Emotion in the Second Half of Life. Motivation & Emotion, 27(2), 103-123.
Cooper, C., Bebbington, P., & Livingston, G. (2011). Cognitive impairment and happiness in old people in low and middle income countries: Results from the 10/66 study. Journal of Affect Disorders, 130, 198_204.
Cornwell, E. Y., & Waite, L. J. (2009). Social disconnectedness, perceived isolation, and health among older adults. Journal Of Health And Social Behavior, 50(1), 31-48.
Hsu, H., & Chang, W. (2015). Social connections and happiness among the elder population in Taiwan. Aging & Mental Health, 19(12), 1131-1137 7p. doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1004160
Robertson, S., & Hopko, D. (2013). Emotional Expression During Autobiographical Narratives as a Function of Aging: Support for the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory. Journal Of Adult Development, 20(2), 76-86.
Shankar, A., Rafnsson, S. B., & Steptoe, A. (2015). Longitudinal associations between social connections and subjective wellbeing in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Psychology & Health, 30(6), 686-698. doi:10.1080/08870446.2014.979823
Sintonen, S., & Pehkonen, A. (2014). Effect of social networks and well-being on acute care needs. Health & Social Care In The Community, 22(1), 87-95. doi:10.1111/hsc.12068
Teo, A. R., Choi, H., Andrea, S. B., Valenstein, M., Newsom, J. T., Dobscha, S. K., & Zivin, K. (2015). Does Mode of Contact with Different Types of Social Relationships Predict Depression in Older Adults? Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 63(10), 2014-2022 9p. doi:10.1111/jgs.13667
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