Browsing by Subject "Social Participation"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Social Network Size and Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study
    (Wiley Blackwell (Blackwell Publishing), 2015-11) Flatt, Jason D.; Rosso, Andrea L.; Aizenstein, Howard J.; Schulz, Richard; Longstreth, W. T.; Newman, Anne B.; Fowler, Nicole R.; Rosano, Caterina; Department of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Staying Connected: Alternative Transportation Use, Neighborhoods, and Social Participation Among Older Americans
    (Oxford Academic, 2022-02) Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Manierre, Matthew; Miller, Keith; Sociology, School of Liberal Arts
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A wealth of empirical evidence documents improved health among older adults who participate in social activities. Alternative transportation can serve as a bridge linking older adults to social activities and improving person-environment fit. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using Waves 1-8 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study, this research examines whether alternative transportation use is associated with participation in diverse social activities among a sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older. Additionally, this research explores whether the effect of transportation use varies across neighborhood environments. We analyzed individual trajectories of participation in social activities by estimating 2-level growth curve models. RESULTS: The use of public transportation, paratransit, getting a ride, or walking/using wheelchair/scooter to get places was associated with participating in more types of social activities. Respondents who used alternative transportation had less steep declines in participation. The effect of getting rides and using paratransit services was more pronounced among respondents living in disordered neighborhoods. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: This research underscores the importance of alternative transportation use and the neighborhood context for participation among older adults. Age-friendly initiatives aimed at fostering greater community engagement should think broadly about the role of multiple forms of transportation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Subjective memory complaints and social participation among older adults: results from the health and retirement study
    (Taylor & Francis, 2021-08-14) Lee, Chang Dae; Park, Sangmi; Foster, Erin R
    Objectives: This study aims to examine whether subjective memory complaints (SMC) contribute to social participation among older adults. Method: The study sample was 4,713 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older from four waves (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) of the Health and Retirement Study. Hierarchical linear modeling analysis was used to examine the association of SMC with social participation after controlling for factors influencing social participation. Demographic factors (i.e. age, gender, and perceived socioeconomic status) were entered in block 1, health-related factors (i.e. health conditions, perceived health, instrumental activities of daily living, memory-immediate and delayed, and depressive symptoms) were entered in block 2, environmental factors (i.e. perceived social support and strain from spouse, child, family, and friend) were entered in block 3, and SMC was entered in block 4. Results: The result showed that factors significantly contributing to social participation are age (standardized β = –0.08, p < 0.01), perceived socioeconomic status (β = 0.16, p < 0.001), perceived health (β = 0.15, p < 0.001), instrumental activities of daily living (β = 0.12, p < 0.001), memory-immediate and delayed (β = 0.09, p < 0.001; β = 0.08, p < 0.001, respectively), social support from spouse and friend (β = 0.04, p < 0.05; β = 0.13, p < 0.001, respectively), social strain from friend (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), and SMC (β = –0.05, p < 0.001). The demographic factors explained 9.5%, health-related factors explained 8.5%, environmental factors explained 2.4%, and SMC explained 0.1% of the variance in social participation. Conclusion: This finding suggests that SMC may contribute to social participation in older adults.