Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Social epidemiological research has shown that social embeddedness is crucial for physical and mental health and overall well-being, especially among older adults. This dissertation examines the links between social relationships, health behaviour and well-being in middle-aged and older adults and is divided into two pillars: The first pillar focuses on social support and health behaviour, in particular the relationship between social support and physical activity. The second pillar analyses the relationship between social networks and well-being using an empirical-qualitative network approach. For Pillar 1 (Study 1), a scoping review of 116 studies was conducted to examine the relationship between social support and physical activity in older adults. For Pillar 2 (Studies 2 and 3), a qualitative network analysis was conducted based on 28 qualitative interviews and 25 unstructured egocentric network maps. Study 2 analysed middle-aged and older adults' perceptions of well-being and the contribution of their personal networks to their well-being. Study 3 analysed the use of personal networks to maintain or improve well-being. Overall, the dissertation shows a predominantly positive relationship between social networks, health and well-being in middle-aged and older adults. Each of the three studies examined different aspects of social integration (social support, social engagement and social networks) and their relationship with health outcomes. The findings underline the importance of social integration for health and well-being and highlight the interrelatedness of different components of social integration, underlining the complexity of this area of research. While the extensive evidence from all three studies generally points to a positive relationship, each study also identified instances where social relationships can be detrimental to health and well-being. This highlights the importance of considering possible negative aspects of social relationships.
Author: Steinhoff, Paula
Institution: University of Cologne
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7112735817