Social Network Characteristics and Cognitive Functioning in Ethnically Diverse Older Adults
Year: 2018
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Social engagement has been linked to preserved cognitive functioning in later life. While social engagement is often operationalized as network size, networks can also vary in composition. In addition, social resources may differentially affect cognition in minority groups at higher risk of cognitive impairment. This study examined relationships between network characteristics and cognition in the ethnically and racially diverse Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (n= 548, 60–93). Multiple regressions revealed that friend-focused networks were associated with better memory and language than family-focused networks. This finding may reflect the cognitive benefits of greater adaptive social pruning and lower homophily, which have both been found to characterize friend-focused networks, but direct tests are needed. Larger network size was only associated with better memory within friend-focused networks. Stratified analyses revealed that effects were driven by African Americans, suggesting that social networks may play a vital role in cognitive aging in this group.”
Source: Innovation in Aging
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,977
OpenAlex ID: W2899655119