Associations between social network characteristics and mental health among rural older adults
10.3969/j.issn.1000-6729.2025.12.03
- VernacularTitle:农村老年人社会网络特征与心理健康的关系
- Author:
Rongxia GUO
1
;
Jiangning FU
;
Xinyu SHEN
;
Juan LI
;
Qinwen WANG
Author Information
1. 中国科学院心理研究所,北京 100101;宁波大学教师教育学院,浙江宁波 315211
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
social networks;
social convoymodel;
rural older adults;
mental health
- From:
Chinese Mental Health Journal
2025;39(12):1025-1030
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To analyze the relationship between the social network characteristics and mental health of elderly people in rural areas.Methods:A total of 274 elderly individuals aged 60 and above from rural communi-ties were selected.A self-designed structured interview questionnaire on social network structure was used to collect social network data,and Brief Version of the Mental Health Inventory for the Elderly(MHIE)was used to assess mental health levels.Based on the social escort model,the elderly people's social relationships were represented u-sing a three-tier concentric circle structure,indicating different levels of social relationship closeness.The structure of the social network included the size,frequency of contact,and intimacy of the relationships.The network size was represented by the number of nominators,and heterogeneity refers to the different types of relationships.Results:The concentric circle structure of the social network of rural elderly people consists of core family relationships,ex-tended family relationships,and friendships,from inner to outer circles.Regression analysis results showed that the heterogeneity of the social network was positively correlated with the MHIE scores(β=2.58).The intimacy of ex-tended family members and friends was positively correlated with the MHIE scores(β=1.07,0.87).The size of the extended family members was negatively correlated with the MHIE scores(β=-5.52).Conclusion:The het-erogeneity of the social network and intimacy play a positive role in the mental health of rural elderly people,while a large extended family network may impose psychological burdens.
